Question

Ally and Robert went up a hill to fetch water. Robert fetched 2 pails and Ally got 8. If Robert fetched 24 fewer pails than ally over a week, how many pails did jack fetch?

Answer 1

Ally fetched 32 pails and Robert fetched 8 pails

Explanation:

If Robert fetched 2 pails and Ally fetched 8 pails, Ally fetched 4 times as many as Robert.

So 4R = A (where R = number of pails Robert fetched and A = number of pails Ally fetched)

If Robert fetched 24 fewer pails than Ally:

R = A - 24

Assuming you want to know how many pails ROBERT fetched:

Substitute R = A - 24 into 4R = A:

4(A - 24) = A

4A - 96 = A

3A = 96

A = 32 (so Ally fetched 32 pails)

Now substitute the found value for A into R = A - 24 to find number of pails ROBERT fetched:

R = A - 24

= 32 - 24

= 8