Martin rings the small bell 4 times more than 1/3 as often as the big bell. If he rings both of them a combined total of 52 times, how many times does he ring the big bell?
A step-by-step solution is:
36
Let s be the number of times the small bell rings, and b be the number of times the big bell rings.

We know that s + b = 52 and s = 4 + 1 / 3b.

Substituting the second equation into the first equation, we get 4 + 1 / 3b + b = 52.

Subtracting 4 from both sides, we get 1 / 3b + b = 48.

Combining like terms, we get 4 / 3b = 48.

Dividing both sides of the equation by 4 / 3, we get b = 36.

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Thus, the answer is 36