<PRE><B>Question 700035</B>
On a school picnic, a group of boys agree to pay equally for the use of a boat and each pays $ 40. 
If there had been 5 more boys in the group, each would have to pay $ 10 less.
 How many boys were in the group?
:
let b = no. of boys in the group
then
40b = total amt paid for the use of the boat
:
40 - {{{(40b)/((b+5))}}} = 10
:
-{{{(40b)/((b+5))}}} = 10 -40
:
-{{{(40b)/((b+5))}}} = -30
multiply both sides by -1
{{{(40b)/((b+5))}}} = 30
multiply both sides by (b+5)
40b = 30(b+5)
40b = 30b + 150
40b - 30b = 150
10b = 150
b = 15 boys
:
:
Check this. total cost 40*15 = $600
600/20 = 30, $10 less </PRE>