SOLUTION: There are 22 students on the debate team. The number of boys is two more than three times the number of girls. How many boys are on the team?
Question 1132121: There are 22 students on the debate team. The number of boys is two more than three times the number of girls. How many boys are on the team? Found 2 solutions by ankor@dixie-net.com, greenestamps:Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! b = no. of boys
g = no. of girls
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Write an equation for each statement
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There are 22 students on the debate team.
b + g = 22
or
g = 22-b
The number of boys is two more than three times the number of girls.
b = 3g + 2
How many boys are on the team?
Replace g with (22-b) in the above equation
b = 3(22-b) + 2
b = 66 - 3b + 2
b + 3b = 66 + 2
4b = 68
b = 68/4
b = 17 boys
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You can find the no. of girls and check this for yourself
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If a solution using formal algebra is not required, find the answer using logical reasoning and a bit of mental arithmetic.
(1) Have the 2 "extra" boys step out of the room for a moment.
(2) That leaves 20 team members, with 3 times as many boys as girls.
(3) That means 15 boys and 5 girls.
(4) Bring the 2 extra boys back in the room, making the answer 17 boys and 5 girls.
