Question

at blue coral bays annual beach clean - up, volunteers work together to pick up trash that gets washed ashore. this year, the volunteers averaged 1.5 more pounds of collected trash per person than last year. there were 80 volunteers this year, and together they removed a total of 360 pounds of trash from the beach. which equation can you use to find x, the average amount of trash collected by each volunteer last year? 80(x + 1.5) = 360; 80x + 1.5 = 360; 1.5x + 80 = 360; 1.5(x + 80) = 360

Explanation:

Step1: Define this year's average

Let $x$ = last year's average. This year's average is $x + 1.5$.

Step2: Set up total trash equation

Total trash = number of volunteers × this year's average.
$80(x + 1.5) = 360$

Answer:

$80(x + 1.5) = 360$