Complete SAT Guide 2010, 13th edition

Gary R. Gruber, Ph.D., p25, #6

Edward Bujak
If y + 2 q = 15, q + 2 p = 5 and p + 2 y = 7 , then what is the value of p+q+y

Clear @solution, p, q, yD;

solution = Solve@
8y + 2 q Š 15,
q + 2 p == 5,
p + 2 y Š 7<,
8p, q, y<
D

:: p ® - , q ® >>
1 17 11
, y®
3 3 3

pp = p . solution

:- >
1
3

qq = q . solution

: >
17
3

yy = y . solution

: >
11
3

pp + qq + yy

89<

To be Mathematica "correct", the above is a set containing one element: 9.

Similarly for pp, qq, and yy.
So, pull out the first (and only) element from each of the sets, then do the math.
pp@@1DD + qq@@1DD + yy@@1DD

An ingenious way to pull out p+q+y is:

8 p + q + y< . solution

H9L