Let x= number of boys in the class The girls were 7 more than the boys ⇒ Girls = Boys +7=x+7 Class of 23 students = Number of boys + Number of girls ⇒x+(x+7)=23 x+x+7=23 2x=23−7 2x=16 Divide both sides by 2 2x∕2=16∕2 x=8 ⇒ there were 8 boys in the class