SAT....1 MATH QUESTION HELP MULTIPLE CHOICE....10 PTS

2. Dan, Laura, and Jane went grocery shopping. Dan spent three times as much as Laura and half as much as Jane. If they spent a total of $50 on groceries, how much did Jane spend?
(A) $15
(B) $20
(C) $25
(D) $30
(E) $45
ANSWER: D
why is the EQUATION for Jane= 6x ? why isn't it half? HOW DO U KNOW?

Jane=6x
Dan=3x
Laura=x
6x+3x+x=50
10x=50
x=5
Since Jane is 6x, the answer is $30 (D).
I know Jane is 6x because since Dan is 3x and he spent HALF as much as Jane, you may also say that Jane spent TWICE as much as Dan. So to find that Jane is 6x you simply multiply Dan (3x) by 2 which equal 6x. Good luck!
~Nico

The equation that you need to come out with is the one with a variable x that represents the laura spendings.

if laura spent x than Dan spent 3x. now Dan spent 3x which it is given that it is half what Jane spent so Jane must have spent 6x.

x + 3x + 6x = $50.

the ratio is 1 : 3 : 6
therefore jane spent: 6/10 * 50 = $30

Take the money spent by Laura = x
Dan = 3x
Jane spent = y
Given, money spent by Laura = Half that spent by Jane
y= 6x
And total spent is x+3x+6x = 10x = 50
10x = 50
x = 5
Jane spent = y = 6x = 30
Here is your answer

(D) $30