Just get me started...

[Guest]

Mike, John and Jorge are training for a cross-country race. Their combined mileage at the end of each training week is 45.5 miles. Mike runs 25% more than John. Jorge runs 20% less than Mike. How many miles does each person run each week?

[Guest]

Mike, John and Jorge
I will change it to Mike, John and George and use the symbols "M", "J" and "G" respectively for the miles run by each.

Mike, John and George are training for a cross-country race. Their combined mileage at the end of each training week is 45.5 miles. Mike runs 25% more than John. George runs 20% less than Mike. How many miles does each person run each week?

Setup equations from the information you are given in the question.

M + J + G = 45.5 .....(1) the combined mileage info.

25% more means an actual amount of 125% or 1.25 times .....so M = 1.25J .....(2)

20% less means an actual amount of 80% or 0.8 ......so G = 0.8M ....(3)

You now have 3 equations and 3 unknowns and you have got to find solutions that satisfy all 3 simultaneously ......simultaneous equations.

I think the best method to start with here is to use some substitution and re-write some of the equations to make them easier to solve.

[Guest]

Yes great......but.........Did you get the answer to the question?.....

.............. How many miles does each person run each week? ....................