Let:
The number of unattempted questions (\(\mathbf{U}\)) exceeds the number of questions answered (\(\mathbf{C + W}\)). Therefore, \(\mathbf{U > C + W}\).
Using the provided equations, we can express \(\mathbf{U}\) in relation to \(\mathbf{C}\):
\(\mathbf{U = 97 - 3C + W}\)
\(\mathbf{97 - 3C + W > C + W}\)
Simplification yields:
\(\mathbf{97 - 3C > C}\)
Rearranging the inequality:
\(\mathbf{97 > 4C}\)
Dividing by 4:
\(\mathbf{C < 24.25}\)
As \(\mathbf{C}\) must be an integer (representing the count of correct answers), the highest possible value for \(\mathbf{C}\) is 24.
The maximum possible number of correct answers Rayan could have achieved is 24.