Math story problem

Question

Imtaez works as a sever in a restaurant. On a certain nigh, he collected $157 in tips and paid y dollars to the food runner who helped him. The amount Imtaez had remaining was equal to ($107+y).  Arrange terms from the options below to construct the equation you would use to determine how much Imtaez paid to the food runner.( you may not need to use all of the terms offered as options. Use any term only once.) =, $101, x, -y, +y, $157, ÷, y²

Answer 1

Angel, I hope I am not too late!

 

Let's think about this.  If I made $157 and gave away y dollars, then I have $(157-y) left, right?  Just like if I said I gave away $2, then I have $(152-2) = $150 left.

 

Now, the problem says Imtaez has $(107 + y) left.  If I had $109, then I could say I have $(107 + 2) left.  Make sense?

 

An equation has an equal sign!  Since both are what Imtaez has left, then they are equal.  It's time to add the y back in.

 

$(157 - y) = $(107 + y)

 

We generally don't write the parentheses in like that, so you could just say $157 - y = $107 + y.

 

The problem doesn't ask for this, but since y represents one number, then Imtaez gave away $20, without even solving it.  Why?  Because what he gave away equals what is added to $107, so it has to be half the difference.

 

$157 - $20 = $107 + $20.

 

Hope this helps!