The number of 5th grade students who volunteered to help clean up the park this was 5 less than twice as many last year If 39 5th graders volunteered to help clean up the park this year how many volunteered last year

2x-5=39

2x=39-5
2x=34
x=17

2x-5=39

2x=39+5
2x=44
x=22

To find out how many 5th graders volunteered to help clean up the park last year, we can set up an equation based on the information given. Let's call the number of volunteers last year "x."

According to the problem, the number of 5th grade students who volunteered to help clean up the park this year was 5 less than twice the number last year. So, we have the equation:

39 = 2x - 5

To solve for x, we can add 5 to both sides of the equation:

39 + 5 = 2x
44 = 2x

Now, divide both sides of the equation by 2 to isolate x:

44 รท 2 = x
22 = x

Therefore, 22 5th graders volunteered to help clean up the park last year.