A fish tank contained 23 fish which were either guppies or swordtails. The number of guppies was 1 less than 3 times the number of swordtails. How many of each kind of fish were there?

Answer 1

Let G = guppies and S = swordtails

G + S = 23

G = 3S -1 => G - 3S = -1

Subtract the 2nd equation from the first: 4S = 24

S = 6 and G =17