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,write the equation to represents the total number of items in the cupboard?

p pencil

p - 15 = rulers

3(p-15) = books

total = p + p - 15 + 3 p - 45

= 5 p - 60

To find the equation that represents the total number of items in the cupboard, let's break down the given information:

1. The number of pencils is 15 more than that of rulers.
Let's denote the number of rulers as "r". Therefore, the number of pencils would be "r + 15".

2. The number of books is three times that of rulers.
Since the number of rulers is denoted as "r", the number of books would be "3r".

3. The total number of items in the cupboard would be the sum of pencils, rulers, and books.
So, the equation representing the total number of items in the cupboard would be:
Total = Pencils + Rulers + Books

Substituting the values we derived earlier, the equation becomes:
Total = (r + 15) + r + 3r

Simplifying the equation further, we can combine like terms:
Total = 5r + 15

Therefore, the equation that represents the total number of items in the cupboard is:
Total = 5r + 15 (where "r" represents the number of rulers)