Oscar had 4 times as many blue staplers as brown staplers. After giving away 5 blue staplers and buying another 22 brown staplers, he had an equal number of blue and brown staplers. How many blue staplers did Oscar have at first?
| |
Blue staplers |
Brown staplers |
| Before |
4 u |
1 u |
| Change |
- 5 |
+ 22 |
| After |
4 u - 5 |
1 u + 22 |
The number of blue and brown staplers is the same in the end.
4 u - 5 = 1 u + 22
4 u - 1 u = 22 + 5
3 u = 5 + 22
3 u = 27
1 u = 27 ÷ 3 = 9
Number of blue staplers that Oscar had at first
= 4 u
= 4 x 9
= 36
Answer(s): 36
