Answer:
90 hardcover books
Step-by-step explanation:
We can solve this by setting up a couple of equations.
Let's allow x to represent the number of paperbacks Tim owns, and allow y to represent the number of hardcover books he owns.
Using the information in the question, we can write the equations:
1)x = 4y-3
2) x+y=447
Let's rearrange equation 1 so that it is in standard form:
x-4y=-3
And then let's multiply equation 2 by 4 so that we can cancel out y when we solve the system of equations:
4(x+y=447)
4x+4y=1,788
Then we can add the two equations and solve for x:
1) x-4y=-3
+ 2)4x+4y=1,788
------------------------------------
5x=1,785
x=357
So now we now the number of paperback books Tim has is 357. Let's plug this into one of the original equations to solve for the number of hardcover books (y):
357+y=447
y=90
And now we know that Tim owns 90 hardcover books.
