Let a be the amount Mrs.Palmer had before she bought anything
let x be the price of a pair of goggles
let y be the price of a bathing suit
let z be the price of a beach towel
3x+3y+3z+$18=a
There needs to be 3 of each item because she has 3 daughters. She has $18 left after all the purchases meaning that it is part of all the money Mrs.Palmer had