Suppose there are x children in kindergarten, and they get y apples. Because Aunt Fang Min gave each child three apples, she can get a mathematical formula: x× 3 = y, and according to the meaning of the question, when each child gets 1 apple, the kindergarten gets 16 apples, so16: x× 4 = y+/kloc-can be added to the expression.

The unknowns x and y can be solved by combining two equations:

x × 3 = y

x × 4 = y + 16

The first formula is obtained by multiplying both sides by 4 at the same time: x × 12 = 4y.

Subtract the first formula from the second formula to get: x = 16.

Substituting the value of x into the first formula gives y = 48.

So the kindergarten has 16 children, and 48 apples are distributed. If each child is given three apples, it is less than the actual apples 16.