<PRE><B>Question 1002870</B>
let b = number of boys last year.
let g = number of girls last year.
p is the number of players on the team last year and this year (stayed the same).


last year b + g = p


last year b was equal to 8, so last year 8 + g = p


this year b + 3 + 3/4 * g = p


since b was 8 last year, b + 3 = 11 this year, so 11 + 3/4 * g = p


you have 2 equations that need to be solved simultaneously.


they are:


8 + g = p
11 + 3/4 * g = p


since p is equal to 8 + g in the first equation, you can replace p with 8 + g in the second equation to get:


11 + 3/4 * g = p becomes:


11 + 3/4 * g = 8 + g


subtract 3/4 * g from both sides of the equation and subtract 8 from both sides of the equation to get:


11 - 8 = g - 3/4 * g


combine like terms to get:


3 = 1/4 * g


multiply both sides of the equation by 4 to get:


12 = g


your solution is that b = 8 and g = 12


last year b + g = p becomes 8 + 12 = 20.


this year b + 3 + 3/4 * g becomes 8 + 3 + 3/4 * 12 which becomes 11 + 9 = 20.


your solution is confirmed to be correct.


your solution is:


the numbr of girls on the team last year was 12.








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