Question

for every girl taking a material arts class there are 3 boys taking the same class if there are 236 students at the school predict how many of them are boys

Answer 1

Trying to get 3:1
Divide 236 by four=59
Then times 59 by 3
The ratio now is 177:59
3:1

Answer 2

Let x be the number of girls and y the number of boys

1st equation: x + y = 236

But for each y(boy), there 3x(girls)

2nd equation: y = 3x

Now solve :

|x + y = 236
|    y = 3x 

|x + y = 236
|- 3x + y = 0

You'll find  x(girls) = 59  and y(boys) = 177