Julie spent $50 on a book. The cost of the book was $24 less than twice what she spent on a backpack. How much did the backpack cost?.

Answer 1

"The cost of the book was $24 less than twice what she spent on a backpack"
or
book = 2(backpack) - 24
50 = 2backpack-24
74 = 2backpack
37 = backpack

check:
twice cost of backpack = 74
Is 50 less than 74 by 24 ? YES!