A 20 ounce box is filled with cans. Each can weighs 16 ounces. The total weight of the box with cans is 212 ounces. What would be the equation

Question

I would like to know what kind of equation I would have to use to solve this problem.

Answer 1

You have an unknown number of cans, so let X = number of cans.  

 

The total weight is equal to the weight of the box (20 ounces) plus the weight of the cans (X cans at 16 ounces each).  So if Y is the total weight, then 

 

Y = 16*X + 20  

 

The total weight is 212 ounces, so Y = 212

 

212 = 16*X + 20     is the equation 

 

16*X = 192

 

X = 12 ounces          is the solution

 

To check the answer, note that 16*12 + 20 = 192 + 20 = 212 ounces