Five sand pails aligned side by side contain a total of 100 seashells. Each bucket contains two seashells fewer than the bucket to its left. How many seashells are in each bucket? a.
24, 22, 20, 18, 16
c.
20, 18, 16, 14, 12
b.
30, 28, 26, 24, 22
d.
26, 24, 22, 20, 18

starting with:    

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7   

5 + x - 12 - x = 2x - 7 - x (subtract x from both sides)   

5 - 12 = x - 7 (combine and cancel x's from both sides)   

5 - 12 + 7 = x - 7 + 7 (add 7 to both sides)   

0 = x (add numbers together on both sides)       

so in order for the equation to be true, x must be 0.   

trying x = -0.5   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = 2(-0.5) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = -1 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7.5 = -8 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7.5 is obviously not equal to -8, the value of -0.5 for x is wrong.   

trying x = 0   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 2(0) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 0 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7 = -7 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7 equals -7, that demonstrates that the value of 0 for x is correct.   

trying x = 1   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2(1) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-6 = -5 (did addition on both sides)       

since -6 is obviously not equal to -5, the value of 1 for x is wrong.

step by step resolutions

1) n+n+1+n+2=51

3n+3=51

3n=48

n=16

the three numbers are 16, 17 and 18.

2) x+15=4x

3x=15

x=5

radha is now 5 years old

3) the two digits are x and y.

y=3x

(10x+y)+(10y+x)=88

y=3x

11x+11y=88

y=3x

x+y=8

x+3x=8

x=2

the original number can be either 28 or 82.

4) n+(n+2)+(n+4)=48

3n+6=48

3n=42

n=14

the numbers are 14, 16 and 18.

5) y=x+3

10y+x+10x+y=143

y=x+3

11x+11y=143

y=x+3

x+y=13

x+x+3=13

2x=10

x=5

the original number can be 57 or 75.

hope this !