Family Counting

Question: Suppose that each daughter in your family has the same number of bothers as she has

sisters, and each son in your family has twice as many sisters as he has brother. How many sons

and daughter are in the family?

Step 1: Restate the Problem

 We want to know how many daughters and sons there are in the family.

 B
G

?????

Step 2: Devise a plan

 Use variable

 We are able to see the equations and solve for the equation. B will represent the sons and

G will represent the Daughters.

Step 3: Carry Out the Plan

 Looking back, we are able to create this problem as a mathematical problem. B will

represent boy, and G will be girl.

G-1=B

2(B-1)=G

 Solve for G.

G-1=B Add 1 to each side

 B+1=G

 Now we can substitute the equation:

2B-2=B+1 Add two to each side

2B=B+3 Subtract 3

B=3

There are three sons

 Now use 3 in the equation of B + 1 = G

3+1 = 4 Girls

There are 3 sons and 4 daughters

Step 4: Look Back

 We used variables to represent the sons and daughters to create an algebraic equation. We

found the answer by using substitution

 We can use images to find the answer as well