The ratio of boys to girls in a group is 5:3. If there are 16 more boys than girls, work out how many boys there are.
[5/8N] =G + 16 [G=B].................(1)
[3/8N] =G....................................(2)
Use substitutions to get:
N =64 - Total number of boys and girls.
G =24 - Number of girls.
B =24 + 16 =40 - number of boys.
Boys make up 5 / (5+3) = 5/8 of the group girls make up 3/8
5/8 x = 16 + 3/8 x (given)
2/8 x = 16
x = 64 in the group 5/8 are boys 5/8 * 64 = 40 boys