Question

In 2007 Candace made 37 more field goals than she did in 2006, she had a total of 497 field goals for those years. How many field goals did she make in 2006

Answer 1

Heres what we know 

X=2006 goals
y= 2007 goals
497 = X +Y which can be arranged to be y= 497 - x
y= 37 + x

soooo..
we make the y equations equal to each other

37 + x = 497 - x
2x = 460
x= 230

now plug that back into the original equation to check
y = 37 + (230)
y = 267

so in 2006 (remember x represents 2006 goals) she made 230 goals