Two boys divided $3.36 so that one boy received 12 cents less than three times as much as the other. How was the money divided?

x + y = 3.36 - -> the boys are splitting $3.36

x = 3y -.12 - -> one boy received $.12 less than 3 times as much as the other

--> substitute the second equation for the x in the first equation

(3y -.12) + y = 3.36 - -> combine like terms

4y -.12 = 3.36 - -> add. 12 to both sides of the equation

4y = 3.48 - -> divide both sides by 4

y =.87

the other boy gets $0.87

substitute into x = 3y - 12

x = 3 (.87) -.12

x = 2.61 -.12

x = 2.49

the first boy gets $2.49

first one take 1.5$ and the second one take 1.86$