Question

Clara lends half her collection of formal dresses, d, to her sister, Susan. Clara then buys four more dresses. If she has 12 dresses now, how many dresses did Clara had originally? Clara originally had ___dresses.

Answer 1

Step 1: Write an equation for the word problem and solve.

`\begin{gathered} (d-(d)/(2))+4=12 \\ (2d-d+8)/(2)=12 \\ (d+8)/(2)=12 \\ d+8=24 \\ d=24-8 \\ d=16 \end{gathered}`

Clara originally had 16 dresses.