Question

Tina and Maryann each play tennis. Maryann has won 5 more games than Tina. Is it possible for Tina to have won 12 games if the sum of the games Maryann and Tina have won together is 29?

Yes; Tina could have won 12 games because 2x + 5 = 29.
Yes; Tina could have won 12 games because 12 + 5 is less than 29.
No; Tina could not have won 12 games because 2x + 12 ≠ 29.
No; Tina could not have won 12 games because 2x + 5 ≠ 29.

Answer 1

The correct answer is Yes; Tina could have won 12 games because 2x + 5 = 29.

Explanation:

First we must analyze the information we have:

We know that Maryann has won 5 more games than Tina.

That would be 5 + x (x because we still don't know how many games Tina won).

We also know that the total number of games they made was 29.

Then we just need to find out what is the amount of games that Tina won.

And we do it as follows:

Tina won x

Maryann won 5 more than Tina: 5 + x

In total: 29

So:

5 + x + x = 29

First we add the x, then an x plus an x, is equal to 2x:

2x + 5 = 29

Now we pass the 5 towards the other side of the equal sign, to be able to clear the x.

Remember that when a sign passes from the other side, it does so with its opposite sign:

2x = 29 - 5

We solve the subtraction

2x = 24

Now it only remains to pass the 2 that is multiplying to the x, which it does it by dividing:

X = 24/2

X = 12

The answer is correct, Tina has won 12 games.

Answer 2

Yes; Tina could have won 12 games because 2x + 5 = 29.

Explanation:

Let

x ----> the number of games that Tina has won

y ---> the number of games that Maryann has won

we know that

`y=x+5` -----> equation A

`x+y=29` ----> equation B

substitute equation A in equation B and solve for x

`x+x+5=29`

`2x+5=29`

`2x=29-5`

`2x=24`

`x=12`

so

The number of games that Tina has won is 12