Answer:
The number of people standing in the original line is 22 people
Step-by-step explanation:
The information given are;
The number of baguettes that was shared by the people on the line = 85
The number of baguettes each person received = 1 each
Therefore;
The number of people that were finally on the line = 85
Let the number of people in the original line = X
Then each space between two people in X was filled by 1 new person of the first set of people who joined the line
Therefore;
The number of the first set of people who joined the line = The number of spaces between two count of people in X
Which gives;
The number of people who joined the line = X - 1
The new total number of people on the line = X + X - 1 = 2·X - 1
As time passed, a second set of people joined the line such that each space between the people waiting was filled with a new person (from the second set) who joined the line
Therefore, the number of people in the second set = Number of people waiting - 1
Which gives;
The number of people in the second set = 2·X - 1 - 1 = 2·X - 2
The total number of people on the line becomes 2·X - 1 + 2·X - 2 = 4·X - 3
The 85 baguettes is then able to go round (each) among the total number of people on the line
Therefore;
The total number of people on the line = The number of baguettes sheared
4·X - 3 = 85
4·X = 85 + 3 = 88
X = 88/4 = 22
Therefore;
The number of people standing in the original line = 22.
(rounded)