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Forming Groups

Age 11 to 14
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Secondary curriculum
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Answer: 7


Using expressions
Let the number of Boys in Group 1 be $x$.

The number of Girls in Group 1 is therefore $40-x$. 

Therefore the number of Girls in Group 2 is $33 - (40 - x) = x - 7$.

There are therefore $7$ more Boys in Group 1 than Girls in Group 2.


Using an example
If all the Boys are in Group 1 there will be:
37 Boys and 3 Girls in Group 1
30 Girls in Group 2

If we swap one Boy from Group 1 with one Girl from Group 2 there will be:
36 Boys and 4 Girls in Group 1
29 Girls and 1 Boy in Group 2

If we continue in the same way, as the number of Boys in Group 1 goes down by 1, the number of Girls in Group 2 will also go down by 1, so the difference will always be 7.


Using a table
            
$$\begin{align}30-b&=37-a\\
-b+a&=37-30\\
a-b&=7\end{align}$$


This problem is taken from the UKMT Mathematical Challenges.
You can find more short problems, arranged by curriculum topic, in our short problems collection.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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