Question

A science class has a total of 34 students. The number of females is 16 less than the number of males. How many males and how many females are in the class?

Answer 1

25 and

9

Explanation:

Let the number of males be A and that of females be B

Total number of students = 34

Number of females B = A - 16

Remember males and females = 34

That’s

A + B = 34

We now have two equations

Equation one:B = A - 16

Equation two: A + B = 34

Substitute A - 16 for B in equation 2

We have,

A + B = 34

A + A - 16 = 34

2A - 16 = 34

Add 16 to both sides

2A - 16 + 16 = 34 + 16

2A = 50

Divide both sides by 2

2A/2 = 50/2

A = 25

Now put 25 as A in any of the equations to get B

Using equation one , we have

B = A - 16

B = 25 - 16

B = 9

There are 25 males and 9 females in the class