Question

Janet buys 4 bags of potatoes.

The first bag has 8 potatoes in it.
The second bag has 6 potatoes in it.
The third bag has 10 potatoes in it.
She has not yet counted the number of potatoes in the fourth bag.
To represent the total number of potatoes she has, Janet writes (8+6+10)
+x, where x is the number of potatoes in the fourth bag. Which expression
also represents the total number of potatoes Janet has?
2(4+3+5+x)
O 25+1+B)4x
O (8+6)(10+x)
O (8+6)+(10+x)

Answer 1

• (8+6)+(10+x)

Explanation:

• 2(4+3+5+x) Not valid since x represents the total number of potatoes in the fourth bag. The expression expands to (8+6+10 + 2x), not just x.

• 25+1+B)4x Not valid as written, the expression has a new, undefined variable, B. Plus the 25+1 are not related to the actual inforamation.

• (8+6)(10+x) Not valid since there is no logic in multiplying the two expressions.

• (8+6)+(10+x) Valid: The expression can also be writte as 8+6+10+x, which matches the potatoe count in the four bags.