Final answer:
The equation to check whether Denis and Sheng pay the same amount for their pizzas with x toppings is "16.50 + 2x = 13.25 + 2x". This expression accounts for the base price of the pizzas and the cost of additional toppings for both individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine if Denis and Sheng pay the same amount for their pizzas with x toppings, we need to set up an equation that represents the total cost for each person. For Denis, the cost is the base price of the large pizza, $16.50, plus $2 for each topping. So, the equation for Denis's total cost is 16.50 + 2x. For Sheng, the cost is the base price of the medium pizza, $13.25, plus $2 for each topping, giving us the equation 13.25 + 2x for Sheng's total cost. We want to find when these two costs will be equal, so we equate Denis's cost to Sheng's cost, which gives us:
16.50 + 2x = 13.25 + 2x
This is the equation we would use to check whether Denis and Sheng will pay the same amount when ordering x toppings.