Question: 3. A baker sold 278 pies on Tuesday. He sold 39 more pies on Tuesday than on Monday. The number of pies he sold on Wednesday was twice the number of pies sold on Tuesday. How many pies did the baker sell altogether on three days?
1. **State the problem:**
A baker sold $278$ pies on Tuesday. He sold $39$ more pies on Tuesday than on Monday. The number of pies sold on Wednesday was twice the number sold on Tuesday. We need to find the total pies sold over the three days.
2. **Define variables:**
Let $M$ be the number of pies sold on Monday.
3. **Translate the problem into equations:**
Since Tuesday sales are $39$ more than Monday:
$$T = M + 39$$
Given $T = 278$, so:
$$278 = M + 39$$
4. **Solve for $M$:**
$$M = 278 - 39$$
$$M = 239$$
5. **Find Wednesday sales $W$:**
Wednesday sales are twice Tuesday's sales:
$$W = 2 \times T = 2 \times 278 = 556$$
6. **Calculate total pies sold over three days:**
$$\text{Total} = M + T + W = 239 + 278 + 556$$
$$\text{Total} = 1073$$
7. **Answer:**
The baker sold a total of $1073$ pies over Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.