A high school graduating class is made up of 351 students. There are 73 more girls than boys. How many boys are in the class?

let x be the number of boys

given, the number of girls are 73 more than the number of boys, meaning number of girls is x + 73

also given is that x + x + 73 = 351

2x + 73 = 351

2x = 351 - 73

2x = 278

x = 139

There are 139 boys

There will be 139 + 73 = 212 girls

139 + 212 = 351 which is the total number of students