Question

Hannah scored a total of 170 points on two math tests. The score of the first test was 6 points lower than the second test. How many points did Hannah score on the first test?

Answer 1

Ok so in order to do this, you have to set up an equation. Let's make a=the score of the first test and b=the score of the second test. (You can choose different variables, it doesn't matter.) It says the sum of the two equals 170. So, a+b=170. It also says that the score of the first was 6 less than the second. This can be shown as a=b-6. Now you can plug this in for a in your original equation. It will look like:

(b-6)+b=170

You can solve for b.

2b-6=170
2b=176
b=88

Since you want a, plug into either equation for b. I'll use the second one.

a=88-6

So, a=82