Question

Mickey has a total of 36 unmatched socks red, black, brown. There are 11 unmatched red, and four times as many unmatched black as brown. How many unmatched black does he have?

Answer 1

r = red
b = black
x = brown

r + b + x = 36
r = 11
b = 4x
now we sub
11 + 4x + x = 36
11 + 5x = 36
5x = 36 - 11
5x = 25
x = 5

b = 4x
b = 4(5)
b = 20

There are 11 unmatched red, 20 unmatched black, and 5 unmatched brown