Question

The three bulls practically destroyed the china shop. Bull 1 broke the fewest number of plates. Bull 2 broke 6 more than bull 1. Bull 3 was the worst of all. He broke 4 more plates than bull 2. If all 3 broke a total of 58 plates, how many did bull 1 break?

Answer 1

B1 = 14 plates broken

Explanation:

Method 1

We start with (58 - 6- 4) = (58 - 10) = 48

= 48 : We prove 6+4 = 10

To find who has the fewest plates we can now try again

with 48-6 = 42 or 48-4 = 44

42/3 = 14

We add 6 = 20

We add 4 = 24

We get 14+ 20 +24 = 58 broken plates.

So we know starting with -6 gets us our answer and our order correct.

Method 2 ; We deduct the difference from the total to find B1 distribution

B1 = 14 so 58-6 is 52 (-10)

We divide 42/3

To get 14

Conclusion;

We find method 1 shows us

B1 = 48 B2 = 48 (+6) =54 B3 = 54(+4) = 58

And try now for (14 + 14 + 6 ) + ( 22 + 4)

= 14 + 20 + 24 = 58 broken plates.

Answer 2

Answer: 14 plates

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Work Shown:

x = number of plates Bull 1 broke

y = number of plates Bull 2 broke

z = number of plates Bull 3 broke

y = x+6 because the second bull broke 6 more plates compared to the first

z = y+4 since the third bull broke 4 more plates compared to the second

They all broke a combined 58 plates, meaning,

x+y+z = 58

Replace z with y+4 to get

x+y+z = 58

x+y+y+4 = 58

x+2y+4 = 58

Then replace y with x+6

x+2y+4 = 58

x+2(x+6)+4 = 58

From here solve for x

x+2(x+6)+4 = 58

x+2x+12+4 = 58

3x+16 = 58

3x = 58-16

3x = 42

x = 42/3

x = 14

Bull 1 broke 14 plates

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If you want to find out how many plates the other bulls broke, then use that x value to find y and z

y = x+6 = 14+6 = 20

Bull 2 broke 20 plates

z = y+4 = 20+4 = 24

Bull 3 broke 24 plates

Overall, they broke 14+20+24 = 58 plates in total, which matches the total given in the instructions. The answer has been confirmed.