Mimi's market sold 24 heads of lettuce one morning. That afternoon 2/7 of the remaining heads of lettuce were sold. The number of heads left is now 1/2 of the number the market had at the beginning of the day. How many heads of lettuce were there at the beginning of the day? "I'm in 5th grade so don't use x as a part of the solution."

Answer 1

well, I am sorry but I just plain have to use algebra

had n at the start

sold 24 so have n-24 at noon

sold 2/7 of (n-24) and have n/2
so
n -24 - (2/7)(n-24) = n/2

14 n - 336 - 4 n + 96 = 7 n

3 n = 240

n = 80
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check
n = 80
sold 24 so have 56
sold (2/7)56 = sold 16
so have 56 - 16 = 40
sure enough that is half of 80

Now if you can do that without algebra, well done :)

Answer 2

80

Answer 3

Catherine, Please show your work.
Damon, from (n-24) - (2/7)(n-24)=n/2, how did you get "14?" What made you decide to multiple each side by 14?