fraction, algebra word problem

Question

maria and farida had 250 beads altogether. after maria used 18 beads to make a bracelet and farida gave away 2/5 of her beads, they have the same number of beads left. How many beads did Maria have at first?

Answer 1

Hi Natalia,

 

Say maria started out with M number of beads and Farida with F.

 

This just means M + F = 250     Eq(1)

 

Now, Maria has 18 less beads because she used up 18. So she has M - 18.

 

And Farida fave away 2/5 of her beads. So she has 2F/5 less beads. Or, F - (2F/5)

 

Now since what they both ended up is equal number of beads, M -18 has to equal F _ (2F/5)

 

M -18 = F _ (2F/5)    eq(2)

 

Can you take it from here? just use eq(2) to solve for one of the variables and substitute it to eq(1)

 

hope this helps.