Melanie’s smartphone has 48 apps. This is 4 times the number of apps Priscilla and Cynthia have altogether on their phones. If Cynthia has 5 apps, how many apps does Priscilla have?
Complete the steps below to solve for the number of apps on Priscilla’s smartphone.
A -Write a numerical expression to represent the number of apps Priscilla and Cynthia have combined. (Do not simplify the expression just yet.)
B -Cynthia has 5 apps. Write a numerical expression that represents the number of apps Priscilla has. Refer to the expression you wrote in part A.
C -Simplify the expression from part B to find the number of apps Priscilla has.
D -You just worked with numerical expressions. Now let's try an equation. Let p be Priscilla’s number of apps. Write an equation in terms of p to represent the problem.
E -Solve the equation you found in part D. What is the value of p? Show your work.
F -You solved the problem using two methods: numerical expressions and an equation with variable p. Did you use the same sequence of operations in both methods?
H -What does your answer to part F imply? Explain.