Question

Tom baked three times as many cupcakes as Ellen did, and he sold 33 of them. If Tom has 57 cupcakes left over, which algebraic expression helps us to find the number of cupcakes baked by Tom.

• A. $3x+33=57$
• B. $3x-33=57$
• C. $\frac{x}{3}-33=57$
• D. $\frac{x}{3}+33=57$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $3x-33=57$

Let the number of cupcakes Ellen baked be $x$

Number of cupcakes Tom baked = Three times as many cupcakes as Ellen did $=3\times x$

Number of cupcakes sold by Tom $=33$

Remaining number of cupcakes = 57

Remaining number of cupcakes = Number of cupcakes Tom baked -Number of cupcakes sold by Tom
$\Rightarrow 3x-33=57$