Final answer:
To find the number of plain and colored marbles in Tom's jar, we can set up an algebraic equation and solve for the unknown variables.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this problem, we can use algebraic equations. Let's denote the number of colored marbles as x. Since there are 32 more plain marbles than colored marbles, the number of plain marbles would be x + 32. Together, the total number of marbles is 180. This can be represented by the equation:
x + (x + 32) = 180
Simplifying the equation, we get:
2x + 32 = 180
Subtracting 32 from both sides gives:
2x = 148
Dividing both sides by 2, we find:
x = 74
Therefore, there are 74 colored marbles and 74 + 32 = 106 plain marbles in Tom's jar.