Question

Kristin bought eight boxes.A week later half of all her boxes were destroyed in a fire.There are now only 17 boxes left.With how many did she start

Answer 1

She started with 26 boxes.

Explanation:

She started with x boxes. Then she bought 8 more boxes. Now she had x + 8 boxes. Then half the boxes were destroyed, so she has the other half of the boxes. Half of the boxes is (x + 8)/2. She has now 17 boxes, so (x + 8)/2 = 17.

(x + 8)/2 = 17

Multiply both sides by 2.

x + 8 = 34

Subtract 8 from both sides.

x = 26

She started with 26 boxes.