Question 100197
On the first day Jesse swam fewer meters than the second day, so let's call that x. The total is 2050, so on the second day Jesse swam 2050-x meters.

We also know that on the second day Jesse swam 250 meters more than the first day.

Recall that the first day was x and that the second day is 2050-x. So to make them equal, you have to add 250 meters to the first day, so it becomes x+250.

x + 250 = 2050 - x

Adding an x to both sides of the equation, we obtain:

2x + 250 = 2050

Subtracting 250 from both sides, we obtain:

2x = 1800

Dividing both sides of the equation by 2:

x = 900

So, Jesse swam 900 meters on the first day.

Adding 250 we get 1150, which is the number of meters swam on the second day.

Checking these answers, we find that 900 + 1150 = 2050, which is the correct total.