equation 2t = 120 + 20. Explain how you would solve this equation.

Question

Sandra is playing on a teeter-totter with her twin brothers. The brothers both weigh the same amount. She cannot counterbalance their weight by herself, but when her puppy, Spot, jumps up on the teeter-totter with her, Sandra and the dog exactly balance the weight of the twins. Sandra weighs 120 pounds and Spot weighs 20 pounds. How much does each twin weigh? This problem can be modeled by the equation 2t = 120 + 20. How would you solve this equation?

Answer 1

Tonyia, the first thing we go is add 120 + 20.

 

2t = 120 + 20

2t = 140

 

Next, we need the t by itself. Since anything without a t is already on the right, we are left with 2t, which means 2(t). We always do the opposite operation, division in this case. Remember that we ALWAYS do the same thing to both sides.

 

2t/2 = 140/2

 

Since 2/2 = 1, we are left with 1t on the left, but 1t would be like calling you 1 Tonyia, so we just right t.

 

t = 70

 

Hope this helps!