Question

There are some lotus flowers in a pond and some bees are hovering around. If one bee lands on each flower, one bee will be left. If two bees land on each flower, one flower will be left. Then the number of flowers and bees respectively are ______________.

Answer 1

Let x be the number of flowers.
As per data, If one bee lands on each flower, one bee will be left.
That means Number of bees is one more than that of flowers.
∴ Number of bees = x + 1.
Also By data, If two bees land on each flower, one flower will be left.
That means Number of bees = 2 x (Number of flowers - 1)
⇒ x + 1 = 2(x - 1)

This is the Linear Equation formed by converting
the given word statements to the symbolic language.

Now we have to solve this equation.
⇒ x + 1 = 2x -2 ⇒ x - 2x = -2 -1
⇒ -x = -3 ⇒ x = 3.
Number of flowers = x = 3.

Number of bees = x + 1 = 3 + 1 = 4.