Question

Mark bought 8 boxes a week later half of all his boxes were destroyed in a fire there are now only 20 boxes left with how many did he start?

Let it b represent how many boxes he started with

Equation or inequality:

Mark began with:

Answer 1

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Answer:

• equation: 1/2(s +8) = 20
• Mark began with 32 boxes

Explanation:

Let s represent the number Mark started with. After buying 8 more, he then had s+8. After the fire, he had ...

(1/2)(s +8) = 20

This equation can be solved by multiplying by 2, then subtracting 8.

s +8 = 40

s = 32

Mark began with 32 boxes.