Question 152592: Yesterday there were 5 times as many girls as boys in Miss Miriam's preschool. Today 4 more boys joined the preschool. Now there are 3 times as many girls as boys. How many children are now attending the preschool?
So far I know that if you let "b" equal boys and "g" equal girls the first equation is 5b=g. I also know that I am looking for "x" the total amount of children in the school or b+g=x. I am not sure where the 4 additional boys come in or how to make the equations equal so that I can solve them. I really would appreciate your help!
Answer by Earlsdon(6294)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Ok, you got a good start!
Let b = number of boys yesterday and (b+4) = the number of boys today and g = number of girls (This didn't change).
Yesterday: g = 5b
Today: g = 3(b+4)
Since g = g, then;
5b = 3(b+4) Apply the distributive property on the right side.
5b = 3b+12 Subtract 3b from both sides.
2b = 12 Divide both sides by 2.
b = 6
So, yesterday, there were 6 boys plus 5*(6) girls for a total of 36 children.
Today, there are 6+4 = 10 boys and 3*10 = 30 girls for a total 40 children.
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