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DanielEMZ
Any explanation as to why 16 times (x-1)?

Thanks!



Each shelf of a bookcase contains 24 books. If the librarian took out 42 books and rearranged the remaining books so that all shelves but the last one contained 16 books and the last shelf contained 22 books, how many shelves does the bookcase have?


All shelves but the last one contained 16 books and that last shelf contained 22 books means that all shelves but the last one contained 16 books, so if there are total of x shelves, then the number of shelves with 16 books is x - 1.
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I have edited the question and the solution by adding more details to enhance its clarity. I hope it is now easier to understand.
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Loved the question have solved it earlier still fell for the trap, forgot to do x-1 for shelfs
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