Lila has four more pens than Vic. What happens when Lila gives Vic two of her pens?

Question

Lila has four more pens than Vic.  What happens when Lila gives Vic two of her pens?

Answer 1

Hi, Felicia!

 

The answer to your question is that Lila and Vic now have the same number of pens.

 

This is easiest to see if we look at an example.  Let's say that Vic has 10 pens.  The questions says that Lila has four more pens than Vic, so if Vic has 10, Lila has 10+4 = 14 pens.  Now if Lila gives two pens to Vic, the number of pens that Lila has decreases by two (14-2 = 12) and the number of pens that Vic has increases by two (10+2 = 12).

 

This will work with any number of pens that you pick for Vic.

 

I hope this helps!

 

Patty

Answer 2

If I were working with a student, I would use a step-by-step approach to this math problem. Writing out each step is essential for understanding and synthesizing the mathematical process.

Step 1: Define variables

V = number of Vic's pens

L = V+4 number of Lila's pens

Step 2: Lila gives 2 pens to Vic

Lila's new number of pens: L - 2 = (V+4) - 2 = V + 2

Vic's new number of pens: V + 2

Step 3: Compare their pens

After giving 2 pens:

Lila's pens = V + 2

Vic's pens = V + 2

Step 4: Answer

Lila and Vic now have the same number of pens.