3. There are 90 hockeysticks arrangedinto 4 groups The secondgrouphas 9 more hockeysticks than the first group. The third group has half as many hockeysticks as the secondgroup. The fourth grouphas 5 fewerhockeysticksthan the sum of the hockeysticks in the secondand third groups The numberof hockeysticks in the fourth group is also twice as many as the numberof hockeysticks in the first group How many hockeysticks are in each group? This problemhas very complicatedwording it is importantto start small and work yourway throughit. Startingwith whatwe don'tknow, let x representthe numberof hockeysticks in the first group From there, and followingthe question we can begin to build on our equation # sticks in first group = x The secondgrouphas 9 more hockeysticks than the first group -+ (x+9) The third grouphas half as manyhockeysticks as the secondgroup -+ =(x+9)/ 2 The fourth grouphas 5 fewerhockeysticks than the sum of the hockeysticksin the secondand third groups - =((x+9)+((x+9)/2)) - 5 OR 2x (we will use this one) At this point, it is time to solve for the unknownwhich in our case is x. 90 = (x) + (x+9) + (x + 9/2) + 2x 90 = 2x + 9 + ((x+9)/2) +2x 90 = 4x + 9 + /x + 4.5 90 = 4.5x+ 13.5+ - 13.5 from eitherside 76.5= 4.5x- divide eitherside by 4.5 17 = x Now that we have solved for x we can plug the answerinto our equationsand solve for all. # Sticksin first group = x