Lizzy: A group of nine turtles sat on a log. Two less than three times the original number of turtles climbed onto the log with the original group, creating an even larger group on the log. Suddenly, half of the large group of turtles were frightened by a sound and jumped off of the log and ran away. How many turtles remained on the log?.
Me: Hmmm, let me think. I think this is the detailed solution:
Two less than three times the original number of turtles is (9 * 3) - 2 = 25. Thus, The original 9 were joined by 25 more, for a total of 25 + 9 = 34 turtles. But half of the 34 turtles scurried away, leaving half remaining, or 34 / 2 = 17 brave turtles. Final answer: 17.