Question

A biologist collected 230 fern and moss samples. There were 110 fewer ferns than moss samples. How many fern samples did the biologist collect?

Answer 1

Answer:

The biologist collected 60 fern samples.

Step-by-step explanation:

This question can be solved by a system of equations.

I am going to say that:

x is the number of fern samples collected

y is the number of moss samples collected

A biologist collected 230 fern and moss samples.

This means that $x + y = 230$

There were 110 fewer ferns than moss samples.

This means that $x = y - 110$

How many fern samples did the biologist collect?

we want to find x

$x + y = 230$

$x = y - 110$

From the second equation

$y = x + 110$

Replacing in the first equation

$x + x + 110 = 230$

$2x = 120$

$x = \frac{120}{2}$

$x = 60$

The biologist collected 60 fern samples.