Question

Out of the original girls and boys at a carnival party 40% of the girls and 10% of the boys left early, 3/4 of them decided to hang out and enjoy the festivities. There were 18 more boys than girls in the party. How many girls were there to begin with?

Answer 1

If I have interpreted this question correctly, it describes an impossible situation.

Explanation:

If `3/4` stayed then `1/4=25%` left early

If we represent the original number of girls as `color(red)g`
and the original number of boys as `color(blue)b`

`color(white)("XXX")40% xxcolor(red) g + 10% xx color(blue)(b) = 25% xx (color(red)g+color(blue)b)`

`color(white)("XXX")rarr 40color(red)g+10color(blue)b=25color(red)g+25color(blue)b`

`color(white)("XXX")rarr 15color(red)g= 15color(blue)b`

`color(white)("XXX")rarr color(red)g=color(blue)b`

...BUT we are told `color(blue)b=color(red)g+18`