Question

In Santa's room, there are 144 books in two bookcases. One bookcase has 20 more books than the other. How many books are in each bookcase?

Answer 1

Let x represent the number of books first bookcase

Then x +20 number of books in the second bookcase

Since, the total number of books is 144

Therefore

`\begin{gathered} x+x+20=144 \\ 2x+20=144 \\ 2x=144-20 \\ 2x=124 \\ divide\text{ both sides byn2} \\ (2x)/(2)=(124)/(2) \\ \\ x=62books \end{gathered}`

The second bookcase

`\begin{gathered} x+20 \\ 62+20 \\ =82books \end{gathered}`