You have a total of 21 pens and pencils. You have 3 more pens than pencils. Write a system of linear equations that represent this situation. How many of each do you have?

Answer 1

pens--- x
pencils --y
x+y = 21

x = y+3

I just translated the English to Math

solve

Answer 2

Let p = number of pencils
Therefore pens = p + 3

P + (p+3) = 21
2p + 3 = 21

Then solve for p