Question

A number of men subscribed a certain amount to make up a deficit of $100 but 5 men failed to pay and thus increased the share of the others by $1 each. Find the amount that each man paid.

Answer 1

let the number of men be x

original share of debt = 100/x

men actually paying back = x-5
new share = 100/(x-5)

100/(x-5) - 100/x = 1
100x - 100x + 500 = x(x-5)
x^2 - 5x - 500 = 0
(x - 25)(x+20) = 0
x = 25 or x = a negative, which is not admissible

So there were 25 men, of which 20 paid 100/20 or $5.00 each

Answer 2

Thank you so much!