Question

9. The number of books in a class library is 17 more than 3 times the number of students in the class. If 5 students are absent, each student can borrow exactly 4 books from the library. Find the number of students in the class.​

Answer 1

Answer: 37 students in the class

Explanation:

Let n = number of books,

Let s = number of students

We get the following expressions:

n = 3s + 17

4 =
`(n)/(s-5)`

Solve this system using substitution:

`4=(3s+17)/(s-5)`

`4(s-5) = (3s+17)/(s-5) (s-5)`

`4s -20 = 3s+17\\`

`s-37 = 0\\`

`s=37`