Use an algebraic approach to solve the problem.

Aura took three biology exams and has an average score of 87. Her second exam score was 11 points better than her first, and her third exam score was 5 points better than her second exam. What were her three exam scores?

Respuesta :

Answer:

Her first exam score was a 78, her second exam score was a 89, and his third exam score was a 94.

Step-by-step explanation:

Use the formula for the mean: sum of elements / number of elements

Let x represent her first exam score.

Her second exam score can be represented by x + 11, since it was 11 points better than her first.

Her third exam score can be represented by (x + 11) + 5, since it was 5 points better than her second.

Plug in all of these expressions into the mean formula. Plug in 87 as the mean, and plug in 3 as the number of elements (since there are 3 scores):

mean = sum of elements / number of elements

87 =  ( (x) + (x + 11) + (x + 11) + 5 ) / 3

Add like terms and solve for x:

87 = (3x + 27) / 3

261 = 3x + 27

234 = 3x

78 = x

So, her first score was a 78.

Find her second score by adding 11 to this:

78 + 11 = 89

Find her third score by adding 5 to the second score:

89 + 5 = 94

Her first exam score was a 78, her second exam score was a 89, and his third exam score was a 94.