Write an expression for the number of blocks each person has.

Question

Sara has 5 more blocks than Greg. Tim has 3 more blocks than Sara. Paul has 1 block. Let n stand for the number of blocks Sara has. Write an expression for the number of blocks each person has.

Answer 1

It says that Sara has n blocks. We always write 5 more than as +5. Therefore,

 

Sara has 5 more than Greg.

Sara=Greg+5

n=Greg+5

Since you want to have an expression for Greg, you need to do the opposite of adding 5 to move that term to the other side. Hence, minus 5 on both sides.

n-5 = Greg

Greg has n-5

 

Tim has 3 more than Sara.

Tim = Sara +3

Tim = n + 3

Tim has n+3

 

Paul has 1.