An aquarium contained an equal number of horseshoe crabs and sea stars. After 15 horseshoe crabs were removed and 27 sea stars w

Question

2 years ago

15

An aquarium contained an equal number of horseshoe crabs and sea stars. After 15 horseshoe crabs were removed and 27 sea stars w

ere removed, the ratio of horseshoe crabs to sea stars was 5:3. How many horseshoe crabs and sea stars were there at first? Solve this problem and explain your reasoning.

Mathematics

1 answer:

KATRIN_1 [288] · Answer 1 · 2022-08-05T14:31:29+03:00

Answer:

45 horseshoe crabs and 45 sea stars

Step-by-step explanation:

The aquarium initially contained x crabs and x sea stars.

"After 15 horseshoe crabs and 27 sea stars are removed the ratio of horseshoe crabs to sea stars is 5:3"

(x-15):(x-27) = 5:3

(x-15)/(x-27) = 5/3

3(x-15) = 5(x-27)

3x-45 = 5x-135

90 = 2x

x = 45