Algebraic translation

Question

A basket contains A apples and P pears, and there are two fewer apples than three times the number of pears. which equation can be used?

the answer is A+2=3P. My question is, why isn't it A-2=3P instead if I am translating it into algebraic terms? anyone can explain in detail?

Answer 1

This problem is comparing the number of apples to the number of pears. The number of apples is not equal to 3 times the number of pears since you are two apples short. So A is not equal to 3P. We add two to the number of apples to balance the left side of the equation with the right side. Let me know if you need more help with this explanation.

Answer 2

In question, we can translate "there are two fewer apples(A) than X" to "A = X-2".

Let's assume that X = 5, then we have 5-2 = 3 apples.

Therefore, A = 3P - 2 is correct.

Hope this is helpful!

Answer 3

The way this is worded is a bit tricky, but if you read carefully you can see they are saying you have two less apples (-2) than three times the number of pears 3P-2=A--->A+2=3P

If you take this equation: A-2=3P you are essentially saying you have two fewer apples than the number of apples (A) that you have. That's not what the problem is saying. You need two less than 3P or 3P-2.

I hope I helped you understand the correct answer is A+2=3P.