Question

A company owns two manufacturing

plants with daily production levels of
8x + 17 widgets and 5x - 7 widgets,
where x represents a minimum
quantity. How many more items does
the first plant produce daily than the
second plant?

Answer 1

3x + 24

Explanation:

The question simply requires us to find the difference between the daily production levels of the two plants;

The first plant produces 8x + 17

The second plant produces 5x - 7

The difference between these two expressions will be our required solution;

(8x + 17) - ( 5x - 7) = 8x + 17 - 5x + 7

= 8x - 5x +17 + 7 = 3x + 24

Answer 2

3x+24 more widgets

Explanation:

A company owns two manufacturing plants:

• 1st plant: 8x+17 widgets;
• 2nd plant: 5x-7 widgets.

To find how many more items the first plant produces daily than the second plant, we have to subtract from the number of widgets the first plant produces the second plant produces. So,

`(8x+17)-(5x-7)\\ \\=8x+17-5x+7\ [\text{Eliminate brackets}]\\ \\=(8x-5x)+(17+7)\ [\text{Combine the like terms}]\\ \\=3x+24`