In a cupboard there are pencils, rulers and books. The number of pencils is 15 more than that of rulers. The number of books is three times that of rulers. If the number of pencils is p, which one of the expressions below represents the total number of items in the cupboard?

What expressions below?

To find the expression that represents the total number of items in the cupboard, we need to understand the relationships given in the question.

Let's break down the information:

1. The number of pencils is 15 more than that of rulers: p = r + 15.
2. The number of books is three times that of rulers: b = 3r.

Now, let's express the total number of items in terms of p (the number of pencils), r (the number of rulers), and b (the number of books).

The total number of items in the cupboard is given by:

Total = Number of Pencils + Number of Rulers + Number of Books

Substituting the given relationships, we can rewrite this expression as:

Total = p + r + b

Now, let's substitute the values we know for p, r, and b:

Total = (r + 15) + r + (3r)

Combining like terms, we get:

Total = 5r + 15

So, the expression that represents the total number of items in the cupboard is 5r + 15.