Question

John has four times as many marbles as Neil. If John gave 18 to Neil, they would have the same number. How many marbles has each??

Answer 1

Number of marbles of Neil = x
Number of marbles of john=4x

4x-18=x+18
3x=36
x=12

Neil=12
John=48

Answer 2

brilliant, I see where I was going wrong. thank you so much.

Answer 3

Glad to help :)

Answer 4

why did you let x=neil??

Answer 5

Because it is given in the question that John has "four times" as many marbles as "neil"

Answer 6

So let neil be x & john 4 times x = 4x

Answer 7

nice.

Answer 8

Let John be J and Neil be N,
1) "John has four times as many marbles as Neil" i.e J=4N
2)"If John gave 18 to Neil" i.e J=18+N
now solve by substituting the value for J in the 1st statement , so the equation will be
J=18+N
4N=18+N (J=4N, from the ist statement)
4N-N=18
3N=18
N=6
Therefore J=4*6 i.e 24 and since John gave 18 to Neil, 18+6=24.

Answer 9

So if John has 24 and Neil has 6 ,When John gives 18 to Neil ,John's marbles reduces to 6 and Neil's increases to 24 hence Both of them does not have the same number .
So i assume your answer is wrong.

Answer 10

Thank you trying nidi.

Answer 11

not a problem :-) i'm looking at the question stem again.... and reading it in parts..

Answer 12

Nidi You made a mistake in this step J=18+N
When John give 18 Marbles it will be J-18=18+N
Then you can continue with your method :) Good one

Answer 13

oooopsss!!!! yes that's where i went wrong !!! apologies!! :P

Answer 14

No problem :)

Answer 15

john's marbles=4(Neil's marbles),let x=john's marbles;y=Neil's marbles
x=4y;
x-18=y+18;
4y-18=y+18;
3y=36;
y=12-Neils'smarbles
x=4y;
x=4(12)
x=48-john's marbles

Answer 16

nice