Let x be the number of training days that Katie wants to add. In total she will have 18+x training days per month.
1. If Katie swam 20 laps every day for 18 training days, then she swam
[tex]18\cdot 20=360[/tex] laps per month.
2. If Katie adds x training days and will swim 3 more laps per training day, then she will swim
[tex](18+x)\cdot (20+3)=23(18+x)=414+23x[/tex] laps per month.
3. If this month, Katie wants to swim 215 more laps than last month, then
[tex]414+23x-360=215.[/tex]
Solve this equation:
[tex]23x+54=215,\\ \\23x=215-54,\\ \\23x=161,\\ \\x=\dfrac{161}{23}=7.[/tex]
Therefore, it is sufficient to add 7 extra training days and 3 more laps each day to swim 215 laps more than last month. Moreover, if she adds more than 7 days (for example, 10 days), then she will swim more than 215 laps more.