Suppose that a crayon weighs the same as a marker. You have a box of crayons, 5 extra crayons, and 29 markers. Let b be the number of crayons in the box. A scale balances with all the crayons on one side and all the markers on the other. You remove markers from the scale so that you can color a picture. Find how many crayons you must remove to keep the scale balanced. Then complete the equation.
looks like
b+5 = 29
b = 24
Not sure what the last part of the question is really getting at.
Are they simply attempting to describe the process of solving my little equation?
If so, then this is an example of how to "complicate a simple idea".
To find how many crayons you must remove to keep the scale balanced, you need to set up an equation based on the information given.
Let's start with the information we have:
- The weight of a crayon is the same as the weight of a marker.
- You have a box of crayons, 5 extra crayons, and 29 markers.
Let's assume the number of crayons in the box is "b" (as given), and let's also assume you remove "x" crayons to keep the scale balanced.
The weight on each side of the scale must be equal, so we can set up the equation:
(b + 5 - x) crayons = 29 markers
Simplifying the equation, we have:
b + 5 - x = 29
Now, let's solve this equation for x.
Move the constant term "5" to the right side of the equation:
b - x = 29 - 5
Simplifying further:
b - x = 24
To complete the equation, you can rewrite it as:
x = b - 24
So, the number of crayons you need to remove to keep the scale balanced is given by the equation x = b - 24.