Salman is handing out protractors to his math class. there are 14 protractors left after he gives one to each student in the room. let x represent the number of protractors that Salman handed out. write an expression for the total number of protractors in the classroom.

Question

mathstudent55 · Answer

How many protractors were given out?

anonymous · Answer

that is all the question said , he had 14 left after he gave one to each student

debbieg · Answer

OK, you are looking for an algebraic expression for the total that he started with.

He handed out x.

He had 14 left.

What expression describes the total that he started with, then?

anonymous · Answer

i don't know. this question is confusing.

mathstudent55 · Answer

Let's try it like this.
You gave me 2 books and you have 1 book still
How many books did you have before you gave me the 2 books?

debbieg · Answer

You are making it too hard. :) Let me try this:

I gave out z cookies to my friends. I have 3 cookies left. How many did I start with?

I started with the 3 I have left, PLUS the z I handed out. so: z+3

anonymous · Answer

3

mathstudent55 · Answer

Right. How did you get to 3? I told you 2 and 1. What did you do to 2 and 1 to get 3?

anonymous · Answer

ok thank you! :)

mathstudent55 · Answer

Which operation did you do to end up with 3?