Final answer:
The total number of pencils, y, in x boxes is represented by the equation y = 160x. Each box contains 160 pencils, so multiplying the number of boxes (x) by 160 gives the total pencils (y).
Step-by-step explanation:
To represent the total number of pencils, y, in x boxes, where each box contains 160 pencils, we use a simple multiplication equation. The equation is y = 160x. Here, x represents the number of boxes, and since each box contains 160 pencils, we multiply this number by the number of boxes to find the total number of pencils.