document.write( "Question 571502: In a family, each boy has as many sisters as brothers, but each sister has only half as many sisters as brothers. how many children are in the family? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #368101 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Count the boy as $\"1\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+-+1+=+s+\"$ is what the boy sees
\n" ); document.write( "Count each sister as $\"1\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Each sister sees $\"+s+-+1+\"$ of her sisters
\n" ); document.write( "For her,
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+b+=+2%2A%28+s+-+1+%29+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------------------
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+b+=+2s+-+2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Substitute (1) into (2)
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+b+=+2%2A%28+b+-+1+%29+-+2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+b+=+2b+-+2+-+2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+b+=+4+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+b+-+1+=+s+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+4+-+1+=+s+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+s+=+3+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "------------------
\n" ); document.write( "There are 4 bothers and 3 sisters,
\n" ); document.write( "or 7 children
\n" ); document.write( "This works\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

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