Fred had 3 times as many purple staplers as blue staplers. After giving away 4 purple staplers and buying another 2 blue staplers, he had an equal number of purple and blue staplers. How many purple staplers did Fred have at first?
| |
Purple staplers |
Blue staplers |
| Before |
3 u |
1 u |
| Change |
- 4 |
+ 2 |
| After |
3 u - 4 |
1 u + 2 |
The number of purple and blue staplers is the same in the end.
3 u - 4 = 1 u + 2
3 u - 1 u = 2 + 4
2 u = 4 + 2
2 u = 6
1 u = 6 ÷ 2 = 3
Number of purple staplers that Fred had at first
= 3 u
= 3 x 3
= 9
Answer(s): 9
