Answer:
1050 masks per person.
Explanation:
1) Create an equation to find the total number of masks
2) Solve equation and divide total by 2 to get the number of masks that can be given to both Mark and Paula so that they have equal number.
1) Since Paula has 70% of the total masks, it can be represented as 0.7 * t where t is the variable representing the total number of masks. Mark on the other hand has the remaining number of masks out of 100% which is 30%. We can express that as 0.3. We multiply that by t because he has 30% of the masks. The final equation we have is 0.3t + 840 = 0.7t. 840 because Paula has 840 more masks than Mark.
2) Solve by subtracting 0.3t from both sides leaving you with 0.4t = 840. We divide both sides by 0.4 to get 2100. That is the total number of masks. If we divide that number by 2, we get 1050.