A student came up with an equation to model the missing pencil situation:

Question

p/2+36=2p

. Select the all the steps that need to be taken to simplify the equation and solve for the number of pencils from Monday.

Answer 1

1. Simplify the left side of the equation by combining like terms: p/2 + 36 can be simplified to p/2 + 36.
2. Move all terms involving p to one side of the equation: subtract p from both sides to get 36 = 2p - p.
3. Combine like terms on the right side of the equation: 36 = p.
4. Solve for p by dividing both sides by 2: p = 36.