Question

The variable t represents the temperature at 4 p.m. Which equation would best model the word problem below?


The temperature at the summit of Mt. Mansfield dropped 17°F between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. The temperature at 11 p.m. was –11°F. What was the temperature at 4 p.m.?

A.
11 – 17 = t

B.
17 – t = –11

C.
t – 17 = –11

D.
17 + 11 = t

Answer 1

So what the question is stating is that:
The temperature at 4 p.m. (t) minus 17 degrees now equals -11, which can be translated to
t - 17=-11
or you can reverse to have t isolated like so
-11 + 17 = t