SOLUTION: Please help me solve this problem! Forty-eight Students were divided into two groups for a field trip. The first group was three times as large as the second group less twelve.

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Question 736869: Please help me solve this problem!
Forty-eight Students were divided into two groups for a field trip. The first group was three times as large as the second group less twelve. How many students were in each group?
Thank you so much for your help!! :)
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Quantity of students in the two groups may be x and y.

x%2By=48
Let the first group be x+=+3%2A%28y-12%29, but the wording description is unclear. Do you find the other interpretation? I will use the one I just figured, and solve the two equation system.

%28x%29%2By=48
%283%28y-12%29%29%2By=48
3y-36%2By=48
4y=48%2B36
y=12%2B9
highlight%28y=21%29 making highlight%28x=27%29