MHB Find the total number of marbles that Ahmad and Weiming have in terms of x.

[Johnx1]

Ahmad has x marbles. He has 40 more marbles than Weiming

a) Find the total number of marbles that Ahmad and Weiming have in terms of x.

my answer: x + x + 40. So 2x + 40

b) Ahmad has 55 marbles. How many marbles do they have altogether?

my answer: 2(55)+ 40 = 150

 

[MarkFL]

Ahmad has x marbles. He has 40 more marbles than Weiming

a) Find the total number of marbles that Ahmad and Weiming have in terms of x.

my answer: x + x + 40. So 2x + 40

b) Ahmad has 55 marbles. How many marbles do they have altogether?

my answer: 2(55)+ 40 = 150

That looks good! (Yes)

 

[Johnx1]

Thanks for the reply.

The reason why I asked this question is because there is a different answer.

a) answer: 2x - 40

b) answer: 2 * 55 - 40 - 70I'm not sure why this other answer said to subtract 40.

 

[MarkFL]

Thanks for the reply.

The reason why I asked this question is because there is a different answer.

a) answer: 2x - 40

b) answer: 2 * 55 - 40 - 70I'm not sure why this other answer said to subtract 40.

Because we both made the same mistake reading the problem. We are told:

Ahmad has x marbles. He has 40 more marbles than Weiming

This means Weiming has 40 less marbles than Ahmad, which means Weiming has \(x-40\) marbles, and so the total \(T\) is:

$$T=x+x-40=2x-40=2(x-20)$$

And so if Ahmad has 55 marbles, we find:

$$T=2(55-20)=2\cdot35=70$$

Sorry for the confusion! :)

 

[Johnx1]

No worries and thank you.