Figuring out total number of students

Question

On the first day of the semester, a history class contains an equal number of male and female 46. students. Eight male students drop the course before the end of the semester leaving twice as many females as males in the class. What was the original number of male and female students? 

 

i need to write out an equation, and solve 

Answer 1

Initially, male = female (M = F)

 

When 8 male students drop there are M-8 students left, and twice as many females, so the number of males is equal to half the female students (F), so:

M-8 = F/2

But M=F, so: F-8 = F/2, solving for F, gives F=16