document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=641778>Question 641778</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A physical education class has three times as many girls as boys. During a class basketball game, the girls average 18 points each and the class as a whole average 17 points per person. How many points does each boy score on average? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #404248 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=htmentor><B>htmentor(1343)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=htmentor><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=htmentor><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=404248\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let b = the number of boys<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then the number of girls = 3b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The girls average will be the total points scored by girls (G) divided by the number of girls:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "G/3b = 18<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The class average will be the number of points scored by girls (G) plus the <BR>\n" );
document.write( "number scored by boys (B) divided by the total numer of students:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(G + B)/(3b + b) = 17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "But the number of points scored by boys = ab where a = the boys' average<BR>\n" );
document.write( "From the 1st equation, G = 54b<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(54b + ab)/4b = 17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "We can cancel b from numerator and denominator:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(54 + a)/4 = 17<BR>\n" );
document.write( "54 + a = 68<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 14<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So the boys average = 14<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );