Question

A bag contains white marbles and blue marbles, 54 in total. The number of white marbles is 1 less than 4 times the number of blue marbles. How many white marbles are there?

Answer 1

43

Explanation:

W = 4B - 1

W + B = 54

4B - 1 + B = 54

5B = 55

B = 11

W = 4(11) - 1

W = 43

Answer 2

Answer: There are 43 white marbles.

Explanation:

t = total number of marbles = 54

w = white marbles = 4b - 1

b = blue marbles

54 = b + (4b - 1)

b + 4b = 5b

54 = 5b - 1

+1

55 = 5b

/5

11 = b

There are 11 blue marbles.

4(11) - 1

44 - 1 = 43

43 + 11 = 54, therefore our solutions are correct.