Seth has one less than twice the number of compact discs (cds) that jason has. raoul has 53 more cds than jason. if seth gives jason 25 cds, seth and jason will have the same number of cds. how many cds did each of the three boys have to begin with?

Seth has 51 CDs, Jason has 26 CDs while Raoul has 79 CDs.

Let x be the number of CDs that Seth has, y be that of Jason and Z be that of Raoul.

Seth has one less than twice the number of compact discs (CDs) that Jason has, hence:

x = 2y - 1

x - 2y = -1     (1)

Raoul has 53 more CDs than Jason

z = 53 + y

-y + z = 53  (2)

If Seth gives Jason 25 CDs, Seth and Jason will have the same number of CDs. Hence:

x - 25 = y

x - y  = 25    (3)

Solving equations 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously gives:

x = 51, y = 26, z = 79

Hence Seth has 51 CDs, Jason has 26 CDs while Raoul has 79 CDs.

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