Ferry boat

Question

A ferry boat can hold a maximum of 60 children or 36 adults. Assuming that each child possesses the same weight and all adults share a common weight, if there are 20 children on the boat, how many adults can still get on?

Answer 1

60x=36y

5x=3y

x=(3/5)y

each child has a weight that is 3/5 the weight of an adult

(3/5)*20=12

the weight of 20 children equals the weight of 12 adults

36 adults-12 adults=24 adults can get on