Question

there are 12 ants. then 7 ants leave. which number sentence shows a way to find the number of ants left? 7+? = 12; 12 + 7 =?; 7 + 12 = 7

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the problem

We start with 12 ants, and 7 ants leave. We need to find the number of ants left. Let the number of ants left be \( x \). The initial number of ants (12) minus the number of ants that left (7) should equal the number of ants left. But we can also think in terms of addition: the number of ants that left (7) plus the number of ants left (\( x \)) should equal the initial number of ants (12). So the equation is \( 7 + x=12 \), which is the same as \( 7 +? = 12 \).

Step2: Evaluate other options

• For \( 12 + 7=? \), this would be adding the initial number of ants and the number of ants that left, which doesn't make sense in the context of finding the number of ants left.
• For \( 7+12 = 7 \), this is mathematically incorrect (\(7 + 12=19

eq7\)) and also doesn't make sense in the context.

Answer:

\( 7 +? = 12 \)