Question

Please help!
Gerry is 4 years younger than Tom.If Tom is t years old, how old is Gerry?
I know how to write the expression, but I don't know how to solve. Please help! Thanks!

Answer 1

hmmm tom is t years old

and gerry is 4 years YOUNGER!

Answer 2

yeah
t-4.Ok now how you solve it?

Answer 3

thats all.. thats the answer! :P

Answer 4

hm. okay i guess. How about this one:
150 people went to see "Ode to Algebra" performed in the school auditorium. If the number of children that attend the performance was, c, how many adults attend?

Answer 5

you tell.. 150 people went to see it

children were C.. so how many left?

Answer 6

i don't know, thats why I'm asking I'm a bit confused. Can you please explain?

Answer 7

total people 150.. out of them 'c' number of them were kids.. so how many left??

Answer 8

I'm sorry I'm lost. Its confusing me, wouldn't it be 150=a+c ?? I'm sorry I don't really understand.

Answer 9

lets start simple

if i said.. out of 10 people 4 were children.. how many are adults?

Answer 10

6

Answer 11

so that was 10 - 4

similarly out of 150.. c number of them are children.. hence the answer would be???

Answer 12

OH. 150?

Answer 13

:O

c is a variable.. c could be 1 or 2 or 150...

so the answer is 150 - c

Answer 14

I feel stupid.
But WHY would it be 1 , 2 , or 150?

Answer 15

thats algebra.. its a variable.. a variable could be any number!!! so in general.. it would be 150 - c

Answer 16

Oh. okay. But since its saying to find the amt of adults, then wouldn't it be 150-c=a ?

Answer 17

ok ok. yes.. 'a' is a variable that you are assigning to adults :)..

Answer 18

Ohh ok! Thank you so much!

Answer 19

no probs ;-)

Answer 20

hey can you help me again??