Question

6. Roy hit 3 less than 4 times the number of balls during baseball practice than Joe did. Together the boys hit 52 balls. How many balls did Joe hit?

Answer 1

11

Explanation:

Had Roy hit 3 more balls, their total would be 55. Divided in the ratio 1:4, that is 11 : 44. So, Joe hit 11 balls and Roy hit 44-3 = 41 balls.

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We could write an equation with j representing the number of balls Joe hit. Then Roy hit (52-j) balls, and the problem statement tells us the relationship is ...

... (52-j) = 4j-3

... 55 =5j . . . . . . add 3+j

... 11 = j . . . . . . . divide by 5

Joe hit 11 balls.