Find the equation..

Question

 

 

 

 

Two problems are presented..

 

 

Problem1.    John bought seven boxes. A week later, half of all her boxes were destroyed in a fire. There are now only 22 boxes left.  How many boxes did he start with?  What is the equation?

 

 

 

Problem2.  Solve  3/8x -4 = 1/8x -5 

 

What is the answer?        Show the equation...

a. -36

b.  72

c.  36

 

 

 

 

Answer 1

1. If 22 boxes is half of John's hoard, then he must have had 44 before the fire. That was after he bought 7, so he must have started with 37.      (x+7)/2 = 22

 

2. The only one of your choices that makes that statement true is c. 36. However, if you wanted the most simplified version of the equation it would be

(3/8)x - 4 = (1/8)x - 5                           add 4 to both sides

     (3/8)x = (1/8)x - 1                                Subtract (1/8)x from both sides

(2/8)x = -1

x= -4