Expert: Scott A Wilson - 4/20/2010

Question
I can solve this problem on my own however, I can't put it into a formula format...

Timmy has 180 marbles, some plain and some colored. If there are 32 more plain marbles than colored marbles, how many colored marbles dose he have?

My way of solving =  
180-32= 148; 148/2= 74; 74+32=106; 106+74= 180

Answer
Yes, that is correct.  He has 74 color marbles and 106 plain marbles.

It could also be done with algebra.
For example, x = colored marbles, x + 32 = plain marbles.
It is also known that x + x + 32 = 180.  That leads to 2x = 180 - 32 = 148,
which you did already.

That gives him a total of 74 + 106 = 180 and 106 - 74 = 32 more plain than colored.