Huong is organizing paperback and hardback books for her club's used books sale. The number of paperbacks is 12 less than three times the numbers of hardbacks. Huong had 162 paperbacks. How many hardback books were there?

The number of hardback books in book sale = 58

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the number of hardback books = m

So, the number of paperback books = 3 (number of Hardbacks) - 12

= 3 m - 12

⇒the number of paperback books = 3 m - 12

Now, total number of paperback books = 162

⇒ (3m - 12) = 162

or, 3m = 162 + 12

or, 3m = 174 ⇒ m = 174 / 3

or, m = 58

Hence, the number of hardback books = 58