Final answer:
To find out how many bottles were in the case before Tom added seven, we subtract the number of bottles he added from the full case capacity, which is 24. There were 17 bottles in the case prior to him filling it.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve the problem of determining how many bottles were in a case before Tom added seven, we can use a simple subtraction method. We know the full capacity of a soda case is 24 bottles. Since Tom filled the case with 7 bottles, we can subtract this number from the total capacity to find out how many bottles were there before he added any.
Calculation:
Full capacity of case = 24 bottles
Number of bottles added by Tom = 7 bottles
Bottles in the case before Tom filled it = 24 bottles - 7 bottles
Therefore, there were 17 bottles in the case before Tom added his 7 bottles to fill it up.