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??
Number of marbles of Neil = x Number of marbles of john=4x 4x-18=x+18 3x=36 x=12 Neil=12 John=48
brilliant, I see where I was going wrong. thank you so much.
Glad to help :)
why did you let x=neil??
Because it is given in the question that John has "four times" as many marbles as "neil"
So let neil be x & john 4 times x = 4x
nice.
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.
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.
Thank you trying nidi.
not a problem :-) i'm looking at the question stem again.... and reading it in parts..
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
oooopsss!!!! yes that's where i went wrong !!! apologies!! :P
No problem :)
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
nice
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