One day, many people were fishing for trout and bass on a lake. In all, they caught 72 fish. They caught 56 more trout than bass. How many bass did they catch?

Question

One day, many people were fishing for trout and bass on a lake. In all, they caught 72 fish. They caught 56 more trout than bass. How many bass did they catch?

Answer 1

Let T = number of trout caught

Let B = number of bass caught

 

They caught 56 more trout than bass  ==>  T = 56 + B

 

They caught 72 fish  ==>  T + B = 72

 

Substitute the value for T from the 1st equation into the 2nd equation

 

(56 + B) + B = 72

2*B = 16

B = 8

 

They caught 8 bass.  

 

To check, find T = 56 + 8 = 64 

              8 + 64 = 72 fish

              64 - 8 = 56 more trout than bass