I am stumped with a problem we are supposed to help our 4th grader with ... Study the number of pairs: 3 - 8 ; 4 - 11; 5 - 14; 6 - 17; and the it has blanks down to 10 - 29; ... ok we get this part ... adding 2 more each set ... now the questions ... If 50 is the 1st number, what is the 2nd? ... If 200 is the first nimber, what is the 2nd? ...If 89 is the second number, what is the 1st? ... and finally, if a number n is the first number, what is the 2nd? ............ Any help with a specific equation would be most helpful and appreciated!!! ... thank you in advance! ...

3 - 8 difference = 5

4 - 11 difference = 7
5 - 14 difference = 9
etc.
In each case the difference is:
2 x (first number) - 1

Let x = first number

Let y = second number

x +(2x-1) = y
3x-1=y
so
x = (y+1)/3

When they want y (the second number) when given x (the first number),

y = 3x -1

To solve this problem, let's first observe the pattern in the given pairs of numbers.

Given pairs:
3 - 8
4 - 11
5 - 14
6 - 17
...
10 - 29

It can be observed that for each pair, the second number is obtained by adding 3 to the first number. So, we can write an equation for this pattern:

Second number = First number + 3

Let's use this equation to find the answers to the questions:

1. If 50 is the first number, what is the second?
To find the second number, we can simply plug in 50 as the first number in the equation:
Second number = 50 + 3 = 53
Therefore, if 50 is the first number, the second number is 53.

2. If 200 is the first number, what is the second?
Again, we can use the equation and substitute 200 as the first number:
Second number = 200 + 3 = 203
So, if 200 is the first number, the second number is 203.

3. If 89 is the second number, what is the first?
In this case, we need to rearrange the equation to solve for the first number:
First number = Second number - 3
Plugging in 89 for the second number:
First number = 89 - 3 = 86
Hence, if 89 is the second number, the first number is 86.

4. If a number n is the first number, what is the second?
Using the equation, we can express the second number in terms of the variable n:
Second number = n + 3
Therefore, if n is the first number, the second number is n + 3.

In summary:
- If 50 is the first number, the second number is 53.
- If 200 is the first number, the second number is 203.
- If 89 is the second number, the first number is 86.
- If n is the first number, the second number is n + 3.

I hope this explanation helps you better understand the problem and how to solve it!