Question

Bobby Joe and Billy ray went fishing at the local watering hole and caught a total of 51 fish. Billy Rat caught 17 fewer fish than Bobby Joe. Write an expression you can use to find out how many fish, f, each boy caught. How many fish did each boy catch? Bobby Joe caught ___ fish Billy Ray caught___ fish

Answer 1

Bobby Joe caught 34 fishes

Billy Ray caught 17 fishes

Explanation:

Let the number of fish Bobby Joe caught = y

Let the number of Billy Ray caught = x

Total number of fish caught = 51 fishes

x + y = 51......... Equation 1

Billy Ray caught 17 fewer fish than Bobby Joe.

y = x - 17

Write an expression you can use to find out how many fish, f, each boy caught.

Substitute x - 17 for y in Equation 1

x + y = 51......... Equation 1

x + (x - 17) = 51

x + x - 17 = 51

2x = 51 - 17

2x = 34

x = 34/2

x = 17

Hence, Bobby Joe caught 17 fishes

x + y = 51

17 + y = 51

y = 51 - 17

y = 34

Hence, Billy ray caught 34 fishes