There are 27 red or blue marvels in a bag. The number of red marbles is 5 less than 3 time the number of blue marbles. How many red marbles are in the bag? How many blue marbles are in the bag?
Number red = R
Number blue = 3R - 5
So
R + 3R - 5 = 27
4R - 5 = 27 add 5 to both sides
4R = 32 divide both sides by 4
R = 8
Number blue = 3(8) - 5 = 19
