Question 958121: Hello, I'm having a hard time with turning word problems into equations. I keep getting them wrong. Please help me to understand.
Here is the problem: the difference of two numbers is 8. Five times the smaller number equals the greater number. Find the numbers.
From what I understand, the difference means x - x = 8 (8 is the difference)
Let 5x = smaller number
Greater - x
So: 5x - x = 8
But my answer is wrong. It said the right answer is 5x = 8 + x
But i dont get it? If it's addition why did the problem use the word "difference " please help.
Answer by MathTherapy(10552)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hello, I'm having a hard time with turning word problems into equations. I keep getting them wrong. Please help me to understand.
Here is the problem: the difference of two numbers is 8. Five times the smaller number equals the greater number. Find the numbers.
From what I understand, the difference means x - x = 8 (8 is the difference)
Let 5x = smaller number
Greater - x
So: 5x - x = 8
But my answer is wrong. It said the right answer is 5x = 8 + x
But i dont get it? If it's addition why did the problem use the word "difference " please help.
Let SMALLER NUMBER be x
Then LARGER NUMBER = x + 8
Also, x + 8 = 5x (The smaller number CANNOT BE 5x....Remember, it's SMALLER)
8 = 5x - x
8 = 4x
SMALLER NUMBER, or  , or 
LARGER NUMBER: 5(2), or 
By the way, your equation: 5x - x = 8 is the same as: 5x = 8 + x, as long as you're aware that x is the SMALLER NUMBER.
From any of these two, you will get what I got!!
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