Question

A bus can carry a maximum of 60 passengers. Each row accommodates the same number of passengers. If two rows are added then each row would accommodate one passenger less for the bus to carry maximum number of passengers. Determine number of rows in the bus and no. Of passengers per row

Answer 1

10 rows with 6 passengers per row

Explanation:

Let x be the number of rows and y the number of passengers per row.

Then we can interpret the story as the following two equations:

xy=60

(x+2)(y-1)=60

Solving these two equations:

y=60/x

(x+2)(60/x-1)=60 (substitute y)

60 - x + 120/x - 2 = 60 (multiply by -x)

x² + 2x - 120 = 0 (factor)

(x-10)(x+12) = 0

x = 10

y = 60/10 = 6

and indeed 10 * 6 = 60 and also 12 * 5 = 60