Question

Huong is organizing paperback and hardback books for her club’s used book sale. The number of paperbacks is 12 less than three times the number of hardbacks. Huong had 162 paperbacks. How many hardback books were there?

Answer 1

There were 58 hardback books there.

Explanation:

This question can be solved using a system of equations.

I am going to say that:

x is the number of paperback books.

y is the number of hardback books.

The number of paperbacks is 12 less than three times the number of hardbacks.

This means that:

`x = 3y - 12`

Huong had 162 paperbacks.

This means that
`x = 162`

How many hardback books were there?

We want to find y.

So, using the value of x, and the first equation, we have that:

`x = 3y - 12`

`3y = x + 12`

`3y = 162 + 12`

`3y = 174`

`y = (174)/(3)`

`y = 58`

There were 58 hardback books there.