Billy bought 28 more stamps than Michael and Michael bought 27 stamps more than Henry. The total number of stamps Billy and Michael bought was 4 times the number of stamps Henry bought.
- How many stamps does Billy need to give Michael so that they have the same number of stamps?
- How many stamps did all three of them have altogether?
(a)
Since Billy had 28 stamps more than Michael, Billy needed to give half of his extra stamps to Michael.
Number of stamps that Billy needs to give to Michael
= 28 ÷ 2
= 14
(b)
Number of stamps that Henry bought = 1 u
Number of stamps that Michael bought = 1 u + 27
Number of stamps that Billy bought
= 1 u + 27 + 28
= 1 u + 55
Number of stamps that Michael and Billy bought
= 1 u + 27 + 1 u + 55
= 2 u + 82
Total number of stamps that Billy and Michael bought is 4 times the number that Henry bought.
Number of stamps that Michael and Billy bought = 4 u
4 u = 2 u + 82
4 u - 2 u = 82
2 u = 82
1 u = 82 ÷ 2 = 41
Total number of stamps
= 4 u + 1 u
= 5 u
= 5 x 41
= 205
Answer(s): (a) 14; (b) 205
