A bag contains green marbles and red marbles, 89 in total. The number of green marbles is 1 less than 4 times the number of red marbles. How many green marbles are there?

Answer 1

Start with two equations where green marbles are g and red marbles are r:

1) g + r = 89

2) g = 4r - 1

Now substitute equation 2 into equation 1:

(4r - 1) + r = 89 Combine r

5r - 1 = 89 Add 1 to both sides

5r = 90 Divide both sides by 5

r = 18

Now substitute your answer into equation 2:

g = 4(18) -1

g = 72 - 1

g = 71

Therefore, your answer is 71 green marbles.

Answer 2

Let R = the number of red marbles.

The number of green is 1 less than 4 times the number of red marbles.

You need to learn how to translate.

4 times the number of red marbles =4R (since the number of red marbles is R)

Let G = The number of green.

Is means =

1 less than 4 times the number of red marbles is 1 less than 4R which is 4R-1

Putting this all together: The number of green is 1 less than 4 times the number of red marbles means G = 4R-1

You know that there are 89 marbles. So the number of red marbles plus the number of green marbles is 89.

That translates to R + 4R-1 = 89

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