Question

Put together, Dulcina and Tremaine have 129 total matchbooks. Tremaine's collection has 39 fewer matchbooks in it than Dulcina's collection. How many matchbooks are in Tremaine's collection? How many matchbooks are in Dulcina's collection?

Answer 1

Let the Dulcina's collection be 'x'

Let the Tremaine collection be 'x-39'

x + x - 39 =129

2x = 129 +39

2x = 168

x = 168/2

x = 84

Dulcina's collection = x = 84

Tremaine's collection = x - 39 = 84 - 39 = 45