Question

Ayako and Joshua have a total of 59 sweets between them.

Ayako has n swsets.
Joshua has 3 fewer sweets than Ayako.

Work out the value of n.

Answer 1

a+j=59 so j=59-a

and j=a-3

j=j so

59-a=a-3 subtract a from both sides

59-2a=-3 subtract 59 from both sides

-2a=-62 divide both sides by -2

a=31

n=a=31

Ayako has 31 sweets.