Gabriel had 3 times as many gold staplers as green staplers. After giving away 4 gold staplers and buying another 20 green staplers, he had an equal number of gold and green staplers. How many gold staplers did Gabriel have at first?
| |
Gold staplers |
Green staplers |
| Before |
3 u |
1 u |
| Change |
- 4 |
+ 20 |
| After |
3 u - 4 |
1 u + 20 |
The number of gold and green staplers is the same in the end.
3 u - 4 = 1 u + 20
3 u - 1 u = 20 + 4
2 u = 4 + 20
2 u = 24
1 u = 24 ÷ 2 = 12
Number of gold staplers that Gabriel had at first
= 3 u
= 3 x 12
= 36
Answer(s): 36
