Question 292934
{{{A + 2xA = 12&3/4}}} minutes
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I'd start out without the {{{3/4}}}.  It is easier to explain 
{{{A + 2xA = 12}}} than when the {{{3/4}}} is on there.
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First you need to explain to him that the "A", which could be written "1A", means the same as "one A", and that the "2xA" means the same as "two A's", usually written "2A" .  Then "one A" plus "two A's" equals "three A's", written "3A" should be easy for him to see.  Make the analogy that "one piece of candy" plus "two pieces of candy" equals "three pieces of candy".  Then he will understand the next step which is
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{{{3A = 12}}}
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Then he could understand that if 3 times a number A is 12, then 
1 times that number would be 4 because 12 divided by 3 is 4.
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Then once he understands that concept completely, you can bring in the {{{3/4}}}
by calling it "three fourths" where "fourths" are things just like "pieces of candy" too.  "Three fourths" is just like "three pieces of candy", and if "three A's" also includes "three fourths", written {{{3/4}}}, then it should be obvious to him that "one A" would include only "one fourth", written {{{1/4}}}.  Good luck.
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Edwin