Let x-----------------> books in the first shelf y-----------------> books in the second shelf z-----------------> books in the third shelf we know that x+y+z=158-------------> equation (1) x=y-8---------> y=x+8 -------> equation (2) x=z+5--------> z=x-5 --------> equation (3) substitute (2) and (3) in (1) x+(x+8)+(x-5)=158--------> 3x=155----------> x=51.7
the number of books in the first shelf (x=51.7) is not a whole number therefore
the answer is Is not possible to place the amount of 158 books in the amounts indicated in the problem
