SOLUTION: A student gets on the elevator on the first floor. The elevator stops at the second floor to let 3 people get on. It then stops at the third floor to let 2 people get off and 5 peo

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Question 313430: A student gets on the elevator on the first floor. The elevator stops at the second floor to let 3 people get on. It then stops at the third floor to let 2 people get off and 5 people get on. There are now 8 people on the elevator. How many people were on the elevator before the student got on it when it was on the first floor?

I worked backwards: 8+5=13, 13-2=11, 11+3=14 the asnwer is 14? (did not count the student) is this correct?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's work it forward and see.
Let's say there were X people in the elevator when the student got on.
First floor: +X%2B1
Second floor: %28X%2B1%29%2B3=X%2B4
Third floor: %28X%2B4%29%2B5-2=X%2B7=8
X%2B7=8
X=1
.
.
.
Check the answer
1st floor:+1 person+student=2+
2nd floor:2%2B3=5
3rd floor:5%2B5-2=8
The answer is verified.