---------------------------------------------- Define x: ---------------------------------------------- Let x be the number of students in the second class: ⇒second class = x
There are 3 more students in the first class than in the second class: ⇒first class = x + 3
There are 2 more students in the third class than in the second class: ⇒third class = x + 2
---------------------------------------------- Expression for each class: ---------------------------------------------- First class = x + 3 Second class = x Third class = x + 2
---------------------------------------------- Expression for total number of students: ---------------------------------------------- Total = x + 3 + x + x + 2 Total = 3x + 5
---------------------------------------------- Find x: ---------------------------------------------- There are 80 students in total, so 3x + 5 = 80 3x = 75 x = 25
---------------------------------------------- Find the number of students in each class: ---------------------------------------------- First class = x + 3 = 25 + 3 = 28 Second class = x = 25 Third class = x + 2 = 25 + 2 = 27
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: There are 25 students in the second class. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------