The temperature, t, increased by 17 degrees. Now the temperature is 42 degrees. Write an equation to find t, the starting temperature.
The equation to find the starting temperature, t, when the temperature increased by 17 degrees and is now 42 degrees is:
t + 17 = 42
explain
In order to find the starting temperature, we need to represent it as a variable, which is denoted by t. We are given that the temperature increased by 17 degrees, so we add 17 to the starting temperature.
The equation then becomes: t + 17 = 42
By subtracting 17 from both sides of the equation, we can isolate t and solve for the starting temperature:
t + 17 - 17 = 42 - 17
t = 25
Therefore, the starting temperature, t, is 25 degrees.