# Math Help - Equations are making me question my intelligence >.>

1. ## Equations are making me question my intelligence >.>

I'm becoming increasingly frustrated with these problems. Why I can't understand them, I don't know. I try so hard to understand the process behind solving them, but I just can't fully comprehend it.

Let me give you guys a question as an example.

"The number of girls signed up for a sports program is 12 fewer than twice the number of boys (x). If 60 children are signed up for the program, which of the following equations could be used to find the number of boys?"

I try to take my time with these problems, as to not overlook anything. Ok, so I have two variables to assign, one to the boys, and one to the girls. The unknown here is the boys.

Let me paste a link here of an illustration I made, showing how I tried to solve this problem.

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/3995/123ynsa.png

I might be over thinking this, I don't know. Me not being to figure out why the answer is what it is though is frustrating me so much. I believe the loop below can depict my frustration quite well.

ZOMG ZUFALL! #1558

2. ## Re: Equations are making me question my intelligence >.>

$x+(2x-12)=60$
$x+2x-12=60$
$3x-12=60$ Add like terms x and 2x
$3x-12+12=60+12$ Add 12 to both sides of the equation
$3x=60+12$ Since $-12+12=0$

3. ## Re: Equations are making me question my intelligence >.>

Ah yes, this makes more sense to me now. Thanks :>.