Lizzy: Tina's classroom has the same amount of students as Maura's. Zack's classroom has half the amount of total students between Tina and Maura's classrooms. How many students are there in total between the 3 classrooms if when Zack was sick there were 22 students in his class?.
Me: Hmmm, let me think. I think this is the detailed solution:
If Zack's classroom had 22 students when he was absent, then the total students in his class are 22 + 1 = 23. If Tina's classroom has as many students as Maura's then T = M. If Zack's classroom has half the amount of total students between Tina and Maura's classrooms then 23 = 1 / 2 * (T + M ). 23 = 1 / 2 * (T + M). We know from above that T = M, therefore 23 = (1 / 2) * (M + M) or 23 = (1 / 2) * 2M. 23 = M. Because T = M, then T is also T = 23. Between the three classes then we have a total of T + M + Z or 23 + 23 + 23 = 69. Final answer: 69.