A bakery labels every loaf batch with a whole number. Today's batch number and tomorrow's batch number are two consecutive whole numbers, and together they ...
Question 1 Report
A bakery labels every loaf batch with a whole number. Today's batch number and tomorrow's batch number are two consecutive whole numbers, and together they add up to 47.
- Using n for today's batch number, write down an equation connecting n to tomorrow's batch number. (1)
- Solve your equation to find today's batch number. (2)
Answer Details
Consecutive whole numbers increase by exactly 1, so if today's batch number is \(n\), tomorrow's is \(n + 1\); writing their sum as an equation turns the word problem into algebra that can be solved directly.
(a) Today's batch number, \(n\), and tomorrow's, \(n + 1\), add up to 47, giving the equation \(n + (n + 1) = 47\). [1 mark]
(b) Simplifying, \(2n + 1 = 47\), so \(2n = 46\), giving \(n = 23\). Today's batch number is 23. [2 marks]
A quick check confirms this: 23 and \(23 + 1 = 24\) add up to \(23 + 24 = 47\), matching the given total, and tomorrow's batch number follows automatically once today's is known.
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