Answer:
Mike had 72 stamps
Ken had 120 stamps
Step-by-step explanation:
Given
[tex]M \to Mike[/tex]
[tex]K \to Ken[/tex]
[tex]\frac{1}{5} * K = \frac{1}{3} * M[/tex]
[tex]K + 24 = 3 * ( M - 24)[/tex]
Required
Find K and M
Make K the subject in: [tex]K + 24 = 3 * ( M - 24)[/tex]
[tex]K = 3 * ( M - 24) - 24[/tex]
Substitute [tex]K = 3 * ( M - 24) - 24[/tex] in [tex]\frac{1}{5} * K = \frac{1}{3} * M[/tex]
[tex]\frac{1}{5} * [3 * ( M - 24) - 24] = \frac{1}{3} * M[/tex]
Open brackets
[tex]\frac{1}{5} * [3M - 72 - 24] = \frac{1}{3} * M[/tex]
[tex]\frac{1}{5} * [3M -96] = \frac{1}{3} * M[/tex]
Multiply both sides by 15
[tex]3* [3M -96] = 5 * M[/tex]
[tex]9M -288 = 5M[/tex]
Collect like terms
[tex]9M -5M= 288[/tex]
[tex]4M= 288[/tex]
Divide both sides by 4
[tex]M= 72[/tex]
Substitute [tex]M= 72[/tex] in [tex]K = 3 * ( M - 24) - 24[/tex]
[tex]K = 3 * (72 - 24) - 24[/tex]
[tex]K = 3 * 48 - 24[/tex]
[tex]K = 120[/tex]
