Answer:
There are 24 girls in the class.
Step-by-step explanation:
Write out the problem like this:
40 = (g-8)+(g)
40 is the total amount of students. (g) is the unknown number of girls in the class, and (g-8) is the amount of boys since there are 8 fewer boys than girls.
First, eliminate the parentheses.
40 = g - 8 + g
Next, combine like terms. Both g's are positive, to we get 2g
40 = g - 8 + g
40 = 2g - 8
Then, add 8 to both sides of the equation, because the 8 that was already present is negative and needs to be canceled out.
40 + 8 = 2g - 8 + 8
48 = 2g
Lastly, divide both sides by 2, so that the (g) is by itself.
40/2 = 24, 2g/2 = g
g=24
This can be tested as the correct answer by subtracting 8 from 24 to count the boys...
24 - 8 = 16
...and adding the two amounts together to get the total amount of students.
24 + 16 = 40
There are 24 girls in the class.
