<PRE><B>Question 983407</B>
let there be x pears and y apples in a box.



if 4 pears were taken out there woud be an equal number of pears and apples in the box.
x-4 = y
x-y =4...............(1)


if 7 pears were taken out there would be 4/5 as many pears as apples in the box.
x-7 = 4/5 (y)

5(x-7) = 4y
5x-35 =4y
5x-4y =35..............(2)



x-y =4...............(1)
5x-4y =35..............(2)

multiply (1) by -4 we get
-4x+4y=-16
add to (2)

x=19 Number of pears

x-y=4

19-y=4
y=15 Number of apples


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