Question

Box A contained 40 paperclips. Box B contained 23 paperclips. After Sally took an equal number of paperclips from each box, Box A then contained twice as many paperclips as Box B. How many paperclips did Sally take from each box?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Number of clips in box A = 40

Number of clips in box B = 23

If Sally took out 6 clips from each box

Remaining clips in box A = 40 - 6 = 34 which is twice of 17

Remaining clips in box B = 23 - 6 = 17

Answer 2

Sally took 6 paperclips from each box

Explanation:

Paper clips in Box A = 40

Paper clips in Box B = 23

Let the equal number paperclips removed from each box = x

Number of clips in box A after taking 'x' clips = 40 -x

Number of clips in box B after taking 'x' clips = 23 -x

40 - x = 2*(23 -x)

40 - x = 2*23 - 2*x

40 -x = 46 - 2x {Add 2x to both sides}

40 - x + 2x = 46 {Combine like terms}

40 + x = 46 {Subtract 40 form both sides }

x = 46 - 40

x = 6

Sally took 6 paperclips from each box