<p>Paul has 24 large pieces of candy, and Kate has 40 small pieces of candy. They have agreed to make trades of 1 of Paul's large candies for 3 of Kate's small candies. After how many such trades will Paul and Kate each have an equal number?</p>
<p>24+x=40-3x
4x=16
x=4</p>
<p>I just did this problem off of the PSAT Practice Test; I think 8parks meant to put a minus sign: 24-x...</p>
<p>24-x= 40-3x
2x=16
x=8</p>
<p>No, 8parks is correct; it's after 4 trades because if you average 40 and 24 you get 32 and after every trade Paul gains 2 pieces (gives away 1 and gains 3) while Kate loses 2.</p>
<p>I think...correct me if i'm wrong.</p>
<p>I read it again and found that they're different candies. (small and big)
So mhh3134 is right. Sorry for misreading the problem.</p>
<p>No, 8parks11 and cosine45 are right. It doesn't matter what size the candies are - it just matters how many each has. Cosine45 explained it correctly, and this is that equation:
24 + 2x = 40 - 2x
4x = 16
x = 4</p>
<p>P.S. I know the answer is 4 because I have that practice test too and mine has an answer sheet.</p>
<p>yea the answer is 4, but being that math incompetent self that I am, I did it step by step...took me like 30 seconds, so not bad.</p>
<p>TRADE 1. Paul has 23 large, 3 small. = 26. Girl has 37 small 1 large = 38.
TRADE 2. Paul has 22 large, 6 small. = 28. Girl has 34 small 2 large = 36.
TRADE 3. Paul has 21 large, 9 small. = 30. Girl has 31 small 3 large = 34.
TRADE 4. Paul has 20 large, 12 small. = 32. Girl has 28 small, 4 large = 32.</p>
<p>WABAm</p>
<p>Oh ok sorry to confuse you all. My math teacher even worked this out in class and got 8, wow! But I looked again at the real answer sheet and it is 4. Yikes.</p>
<p>You do know there is a link to all the explanations in the back of the book?</p>
<p><a href="http://collegeboard.com/psatpractice/%5B/url%5D">http://collegeboard.com/psatpractice/</a></p>