Pre-Algebra Question. Need help.

Question

At our school there are 18 fewer boys out for swimming than for baseball. There are 48 boys altogether out for swimming and baseball. How many boys are out for baseball?

Answer 1

Let s = swimming and b = baseball.

Here's what we know:

b + s = 48 (the total number of sports players is 48)

s = b - 18 (there are 18 less people in swimming than in baseball)

 

We have a value for a variable, so let's plug it in:

b + b - 18 = 48

Simplify:

2b - 18 = 48

Add 18 to both sides:

2b - 18 + 18 = 48 + 18

2b = 66

Divide by 2:

2b / 2 = 66 / 2

b = 33

 

Now that we know b, we can find s:

s = 33 - 18

s = 15

 

Check:

33 + 15 = 48

48 = 48

Answer 2

s = b - 18

s + b = 48

 

Since s = b - 18, we can plug in b - 18 for s in the 2nd equation.

 

(b - 18) + b = 48

2b = 66

b = 33