SOLUTION: Philip and Scott have a collection of bugs. Philip found 5 out of every 6 bugs in the collection. Scott found 12 fewer bugs than Philip. How many bugs are in their collection?

Algebra ->  Percentage-and-ratio-word-problems -> SOLUTION: Philip and Scott have a collection of bugs. Philip found 5 out of every 6 bugs in the collection. Scott found 12 fewer bugs than Philip. How many bugs are in their collection?      Log On


   

Question 1195193: Philip and Scott have a collection of bugs. Philip found 5 out of every 6 bugs in the collection. Scott found 12 fewer bugs than Philip. How many bugs are in their collection?
Answer by ikleyn(52803) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Philip and Scott have a collection of bugs.
Philip found 5 out of every 6 bugs in the collection.
Scott found 12 fewer bugs than Philip.
How many bugs are in their collection?
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Let x be the number of bugs Scott found.


Then from the problem, the number of bugs Philip found is 5x

     (five times as many as Scott).


Also from the problem, we have this equation

    5x - x = 12,

or

       4x  = 12

        x  = 12/4 = 3.


ANSWER.  Scott found 3 bugs;  Philip found 5*3 = 15 bugs.

Solved.