Question

There are 10 less trumpet players than saxophone players. The number of saxophone players is 3 times the number of trumpet players. How many trumpet players are there?

Answer 1

Explanation:

There are 5 trumpeters.

There are 10 less trumpet players than saxophone players, so - S - 10 = T

Also, there are three times as many saxophonists than trumpeters, so S = 3T

Using these formulas,

S - 10 = T, and S = 3T

substituting 3T for S gives: 3T - 10 = T.

Adding 10 to each side gives: 3T = T +10, or 2T = 10

T = 5

Five trumpet players means 15 saxophonists, by the first clause. Also three times five trumpet players equals fifteen saxophonists.