ax ± b = c. All problems like the following lead eventually to an equation in that simple form.
Jane spent $42 for shoes. This was $14 less than twice what she spent for a blouse. How much was the blouse?  Options.
A) 28 B) 26 C) 24 D) 22 E) 20
Every word problem has an unknown number. In this problem, it is the price of the blouse. Always let x represent the unknown number. That is, let x answer the question.   Let x, then, be how much she spent for the blouse. The problem states that "This" -- that is, $42 -- was $14 less than two times x.   Here is the equation:   2x − 14 = 42.   2x=42+14= 
<gadget id="calculator">42+14</gadget>
<output>56</output>
56.   x=56/2= 
<gadget id="calculator">56/2</gadget>
<output>28</output>
28   The blouse cost $28.   28nswer is 28.
<result>A</result>
ax ± b = c. All problems like the following lead eventually to an equation in that simple form.
Jane spent $42 for shoes. This was $14 less than twice what she spent for a blouse. How much was the blouse?