There are as many boys as there are girls. When 16 boys left, the number of remaining boys became half the

There are as many boys as there are girls. When 16 boys left, the number of remaining boys became half the number of girls. How many pupils were there at the start?

At the start, the number of boys equals the number of girls. When 16 boys left, the number of remaining boys became one half the number of boys at the start. So there were 32 boys at the start. And there were 64 pupils in all at the start
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Answer: 64

Let b and g = # of boys and girls, respectively, at the start.
b = g
b - 16 = g/2
solve the system of equations:
g - 16 = g/2
2g - 32 = g
g = 32
b = g = 32
original number of pupils = 32 + 32 = 64

Let x = number of boys
(x - 16) = x/2

2x - 32 = x
x = 32
so since there was the same number of boys as there are girls in the class.
, total number of pupils = 32*2 = 64

x = boys
y = girls

x = y

x - 16 = x/2

x = 32 = y

Total pupils = 32 + 32 = 64

64 boys and girls 32 & 32

64!! C'mon, use that noodle!:)