Question

Ben gets 5 more presents than his naughty little sister Gwen this holiday season. If together they receive 21 presents, how many

presents does each kid receive?

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

• Ben: 13
• Gwen: 8

Explanation:

The given relations give rise to two equations:

b = g + 5

b + g = 21

Using the first to substitute for b in the second, we have ...

(g +5) +g = 21

2g = 16 . . . . . . . subtract 5

g = 8 . . . . . . . . . divide by 2

b = 8 +5 = 13

Ben got 13 presents; Gwen got 8.