Jenny threw the javelin 4 metres further than Angus but 5 metres less than Cameron. if the combined

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Jenny threw the javelin 4 metres further than Angus but 5 metres less than Cameron. if the combined distance thrown by the 3 friends is 124 metres, how far did Angus throw the javelin?

Assumptions and givens:
  • Let a be the distance Angus threw the javelin
  • Let c be the distance Cameron threw the javelin
  • Let j be the distance Jenny threw the javelin
We're given 3 equations:
  1. j = a + 4
  2. j = c - 5
  3. a + c + j = 124
Since j is the common variable in all 3 equations, let's rearrange equation (1) and equation (2) in terms of j as the dependent variable:
  1. a = j - 4
  2. c = j + 5
  3. a + c + j = 124
Now substitute equation (1) and equation (2) into equation (3) for a and c:
j - 4 + j + 5 + j = 124

To solve this equation for j, we type it in our math engine and we get:
j = 41

The question asks how far Angus (a) threw the javelin. Since we have Jenny's distance j = 41 and equation (1) has j and a together, let's substitute j = 41 into equation (1):
a = 41 - 4
a = 37 meters
 
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