Question

In Mr. Harold's class there are 12 students. They each have 5 pencils. Some of the students, s, each lost 2 pencils. Now, the students only have a total of 38 pencils left. Which equation represents this situation?

A. s × 2 = 38
B. (12 × 5) - s = 38
C.(12 × 5) - (s × 2) = 38
D. (s × 2) - 12 = 38

Answer 1

The answer would be C. (12 x 5) - (s x 2) = 38.

This is because if there are 12 students with 5 pencils per student, we can say 12 x 5. Then, think of the phrase, two pencils lost per student. That would be 2s, or (s x 2). Since it’s lost, we would subtract that amount from 12 x 5.