Sarah had thrice as many notebooks as pencils. After giving away 59 notebooks and selling 16 notebooks, she found out that she had twice as many notebooks as pencils left.
- How many notebooks did Sarah have at first?
- How many notebooks and pencils did Sarah have altogether at first?
|
Notebooks |
Pencils |
Total |
Before |
3 u |
1 u |
4 u |
Change 1 |
- 59 |
|
- 1 u |
Change 2 |
- 16 |
|
After |
2 u |
1 u |
3 u |
(a)
The number of pencils remains unchanged.
Number of notebooks that Sarah gave away or sold
= 3 u - 2 u
= 1 u
1 u = 59 + 16 = 75
Number of notebooks that Sarah had at first
= 3 u
= 3 x 75
= 225
(b)
Total number of notebooks and pencils that Sarah had at first
= 1 u + 3 u
= 4 u
= 4 x 75
= 300
Answer(s): (a) 225; (b) 300