Question

There were 8 fewer boys than girls in Mr. Taylor’s Algebra class. If he had 40 pupils, how many were girls?

Answer 1

Answer:

There are 24 girls in the class.

Step-by-step explanation:

Write out the problem like this:

40 = (g-8)+(g)

40 is the total amount of students. (g) is the unknown number of girls in the class, and (g-8) is the amount of boys since there are 8 fewer boys than girls.

First, eliminate the parentheses.

40 = g - 8 + g

Next, combine like terms. Both g's are positive, to we get 2g

40 = g - 8 + g

40 = 2g - 8

Then, add 8 to both sides of the equation, because the 8 that was already present is negative and needs to be canceled out.

40 + 8 = 2g - 8 + 8

48 = 2g

Lastly, divide both sides by 2, so that the (g) is by itself.

40/2 = 24, 2g/2 = g

g=24

This can be tested as the correct answer by subtracting 8 from 24 to count the boys...

24 - 8 = 16

...and adding the two amounts together to get the total amount of students.

24 + 16 = 40

There are 24 girls in the class.