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Academic Courtesies

Unreviewed import — a classic from the public domain; its solution has not been machine-checked yet.

math
In a certain mixed school, where a special feature was made of the inculcation of good manners, they had a curious rule on assembling every morning. There were twice as many girls as boys. Every girl made a bow to every other girl, to every boy, and to the teacher. Every boy made a bow to every other boy, to every girl, and to the teacher. In all there were nine hundred bows made in that model academy every morning. Now, can you say exactly how many boys there were in the school? If you are not very careful, you are likely to get a good deal out in your calculation.

Solution

Commit an attempt to unseal the proof. Write your answer — right or wrong, thinking it through is the point.

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