Question

If Susie is 14, what was her age x years ago?

x - 14
14 - x
14x

Answer 1

The answer is 14-x because if she 14, to find out x years less than 14, you would have to subtract x from 14 and the equation for that would be 14-x. :)

Answer 2

The answer is 14 - x.

If she is 14 now, and the question is looking for her age x years ago, it is basically just asking you to subtract x from 14.

It also can't be x - 14, because that means Susie's age is x and the question is asking for her age 14 years ago, and it can't be 14x, because that's 14 multiplied by x.