Question

Only 12 students can be in the next school play. Let t be the total number of students who tried out. The number of students who tried out but did not get a role is 42. The bar diagram models this situation.
12
42
t
Use pencil and paper. Explain how the bar diagram and the equation t minus 12 equals 42 model this situation. Then solve the equation to find the total number of students who tried out for the play.
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Part 1
The total number of students who tried out for the play is
  
enter your response here. ​(Type a whole​ number.)

Answer 1

The bar diagram shows the total t split into two parts: one part is 12 students who got roles and the other part is 42 students who did not get roles. So if you take the total t and remove the 12 who got roles, the remainder is the 42 who did not — this is what the equation t − 12 = 42 says.

Solve the equation:
t − 12 = 42
add 12 to both sides: t = 42 + 12
t = 54

The total number of students who tried out is 54.