How would you write a real-world problem that models the following equation: −x+40=x?(1 point)

Question

The amount of money a stock lost in the stock market was $40 more than it gained.
The number of days that the temperature has been below zero is 40 fewer than the number of days the temperature has been above zero.
If Alex gained as much money as she lost, she would have 40 dollars.
Marsha is below sea level. To get as far above sea level as she is below, she would have to move to a location 40 feet higher.

Answer 1

To create a real-world problem that models the equation \(-x + 40 = x\), we need to interpret the equation in a meaningful context.

The equation can be rewritten as \(-x = x - 40\) or \(40 = 2x\), which suggests a scenario where a negative quantity (loss or deficit) equates to a variable quantity adjusted by some constant (in this case, +40).

Among the provided options, the one that fits well is:

Marsha is below sea level. To get as far above sea level as she is below, she would have to move to a location 40 feet higher.

This can be understood as follows:

• Let \(x\) represent how far below sea level Marsha is (a positive value).
• The term \(-x\) represents her distance below sea level (a negative value).
• The \(+40\) represents the height above sea level that she would need to reach in order to be equidistant from sea level in both directions (both below and above).

Thus, we have the two sides of the equation where one represents how far below she is when adjusted by 40 feet, and the other represents the distance she would have to move up.

In conclusion, the best fit for the model of the equation \(-x + 40 = x\) is:

Marsha is below sea level. To get as far above sea level as she is below, she would have to move to a location 40 feet higher.