Question

A mid western music competition awarded 32 ribbons.the number of blue ribbons awarded was 3 less than the number of white ribbons. The number of red ribbons was 2 more than the number of white ribbons. How many of each kind of ribbon was awarded?

Answer 1

13 Red

11 White

8 Blue

Explanation:

First, we can put this into an equation.

We'll represent blue ribbons with b, white ribbons with w, and red ribbons with r.

Since there was a total of 32 ribbons awarded, we can just add all of them together.

b+w+r=32

We also know there were 3 less blue ribbons than white ribbons.

w-3=b

There were also 2 more red ribbons than white ribbons.

w+2=r

We can plug these all in at once.

(w-3)+w+(w+2)=32

3w-1=32

3w=33

w=11

So, now we now that 11 white ribbons were awarded. With this, we also know how many red ribbons were awarded-

11+2=13

13 red ribbons, and how many blue ribbons were awarded-

11-3=8

8 blue ribbons.