SOLUTION: I cannot help my daughter on this- I thought I had the answer, but I think I'm wrong. Here's the problem: Pocahontas Middle school had a canned food drive. This year, the school c

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Question 868716: I cannot help my daughter on this- I thought I had the answer, but I think I'm wrong. Here's the problem:
Pocahontas Middle school had a canned food drive. This year, the school collected 125 less than half the cans collected last year. The school collected 745 cans between the two years. How many cans were collected each year?
I set it up as 1/2x-125=745 and got 435 and 310.
I know I'm missing something.
Please help us!
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

x = the number of cans collected last year.

1%2F2x-125 = the number of cans collected this year

So the equation comes from:

%22%22%2B%22%22 %22%22=%22%22 

 x + 1%2F2x-125 = 745

1x + 1%2F2x-125 = 745

   1%261%2F2x-125 = 745

         3%2F2x = 870

Multiply both sides by 2

                 3x = 1740

Divide both sides by 3

                  x = 580

x = 580 = the number of cans collected last year.

1%2F2x-125 = 1%2F2(580)-125 = 290-125 = 165 = the number of cans

collected this year

Edwin