Question 868716
<pre>

x = the number of cans collected last year.

{{{1/2}}}x-125 = the number of cans collected this year

So the equation comes from:

{{{(matrix(10,1,

The,number, of, cans, collected, last, year, which, was, x))}}}{{{""+""}}}{{{(matrix(10,1,

The,number, of, cans, collected, this, year, which, was, expr(1/2)x-125))}}} {{{""=""}}} {{{(matrix(11,1,

The,number, of, cans, collected, in, both, years, which, was, 745))}}}

 x + {{{1/2}}}x-125 = 745

1x + {{{1/2}}}x-125 = 745

   {{{1&1/2}}}x-125 = 745

         {{{3/2}}}x = 870

Multiply both sides by 2

                 3x = 1740

Divide both sides by 3

                  x = 580

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

{{{1/2}}}x-125 = {{{1/2}}}(580)-125 = 290-125 = 165 = the number of cans

collected this year

Edwin</pre>