Algebra- please help

Question

There were 8 fewer boys than girls in Mr. Taylor’s Algebra class. If he had 40 pupils, how many were girls?

Answer 1

Let's start with variables to break down this problem. Let's make b = number of boys in Mr. Taylor's Algebra Class and g = number of girls in Mr. Taylor's Algebra Class. 8 fewer boys than girls can be translated to b = g - 8. We also know the total amount of students in Mr. Taylor's Algebra Class is 40.

If the amount of boys (b) and amount of girls (g) added together is 40, we can make the following equation.

(g - 8) + g = 40

Now you can solve for g. Try yourself before looking at the answer below.

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(g - 8) + g = 40

2g - 8 = 40

2g = 48

g = 24

Therefore, we know there are 24 girls in the class.

Answer 2

We need to let g = number of girls in the class - this is our reference point for the problem.

If g = girls, then g - 8 = boys - there are 8 fewer boys than girls.

Since there are 40 total students:

(girls) + (boys) = 40

(g) + (g - 8) = 40

Combine like terms and solve the equation from here.