Numeric Entry: Word Problem.

[kwame.appau]

Please I tried my hand on this math question and stuck with my answer.
30 family members are living in a house (men, women, and children). A man eats 3 slices of bread, a woman eats 1 slice, and a child eats half a slice. In all, there were 20 slices of bread which were consumed in a single sitting. How many men are in the household?
My answer is 2 men, only if I make women 0 and children 28. but it doesn't make sense to me that the women should be 0. please I want to understand. Thanks
SOURCE: grequestionaday.com

[tommywallach]

3m + W + 1/2C = 20
M + W + C = 30

Let's get rid of that fraction:

6M + 2W + C = 40
M + W + C = 30

Now subtract:

5M + W = 10

There can only be one man. If there were two, this equation wouldn't work.

Hope that helps!

-t

[kwame.appau]

Thank you Mr. Tom I understand now and the way you use the equation to answer the question.

[tommywallach]

Glad to help!

-t