I cant solve this simple word problem can anyone please help me?

Question

As part of a tour group 73 people traveled on 2 buses. 3/5 of the people of Bus A were Women. There were 17 men in Bus B. The number of women on both buses were equal. How many people were on Bus A?

Answer 1

Let m = number of men on bus A

     w = number of women on each bus

 

m + w = number of people on bus A

17 + w = number of people on bus B

 

Then, (m+w) + (17+w) = 73    So, 2w + m = 56

 

Since the number of women on bus A is 3/5 of the total number of people on bus A,         w = (3/5)(m+w).

 

Simplifying this equation, we get 5w = 3m + 3w

 

                                         So, 2w = 3m

 

Replace 2w by 3m in the equation 2w + m = 56 to get 3m + m = 56

 

                                                                                   4m = 56

 

                                                                                     m = 14

 

So, 2w = 3(14) = 42

 

       w = 21

 

Number of people on bus A = m + w = 14 + 21 = 35 

 

 

Answer 2

Let the number of people  in Bus A is x, then no of women is 3/5 x and no of men is 2/5 x.

Since the no. of women are same both buses, the no of women in Bus B is 3/5 x. 

The no of men in bus B is 17.

 

so, 3/5 x + 2/5 x +3/5 x +17 =73

or, x+3/5 x =73-17

or, 8/5 x= 56

Therefore, x= 5/8 x 56 = 35

So the number of people in BUS A was 35.