To solve this simple word problem, we need to understand what it is saying. The problem tells us that Mike and his brothers (three people in all) paid $49 apiece for a video game console. This means we need to multiply what each person paid by the number of people:

$\displaystyle \small Cost = 49*3$

$\displaystyle \small =147$

The total cost of the video game console was $147.

$\displaystyle 20 - x = 6$ is the correct answer to this question.

Amanda originally has $\displaystyle 20$ bracelets, so this is the number with which we begin.

Amanda is losing bracelets, so it is a subtraction problem.

Since the number we are solving for is the number of bracelets Amanda can give away, $\displaystyle x$ is placed after the subtraction sign.

The number of bracelets that Amanda needs to finish with is $\displaystyle 6$, so the equation is set to equal $\displaystyle 6$.

The correct answer to the question is $\displaystyle 2x=22$

The number of points that Alex scored is $\displaystyle 22$, so set the equation equal to $\displaystyle 22$.

The unknown number that we are looking for is the number of baskets, so set $\displaystyle x$ equal to this.

Since each basket is worth $\displaystyle 2$ points, multiply $\displaystyle x$ by $\displaystyle 2$.

The final equation comes out to be $\displaystyle 2x = 22$

$\displaystyle $35 + x = $50$ is the correct answer to this question.

Megan originally has $\displaystyle 35$ dollars, so this is the number we begin with.

Megan needs to gain money, so this is an addition problem.

Since the number we are solving for is the amount of money that Megan needs to save, $\displaystyle x$ is placed after the addition sign.

The amount of money that Megan needs to save is $\displaystyle 50$ dollars, so this is the number we set the equation equal to.

$\displaystyle $15 = $3x$ is the correct answer to this question.

The amount of money that Lauren has is $\displaystyle 15$ dollars, so set the equation equal to $\displaystyle 15$.

On the opposite side of the equation, we solve for the unknown.

The unknown number that we are looking for is the number of necklaces she can buy, so set $\displaystyle x$ equal to this.

Since each necklace costs $\displaystyle 3$ dollars, multiply $\displaystyle x$ by $\displaystyle 3$. 

The problem is asking you to divide 12 into three parts.

We divide 12 by 3. By factoring 12 we see that the 3's cancel and we are left with 4.

 $\displaystyle \frac{12}{3}=\frac{4\cdot 3}{3}=4$

The question is asking you to divide the $20 by the cost of one cookie.

In this problem each cookie costs $2. 

$\displaystyle \frac{20}{2}= 10$

Therefore, with $20 Sally can buy 10 cookies.

The question is asking you to add 7 years to Matt's age because $\displaystyle 2007-2000=7$.

Adding his age from 2000 to the number of years that have past from 2000 to 2007 we get his new age. 

$\displaystyle 7 +7 =14$

The question is asking you to subtract the 5 pieces leftover from the original amount of 20. 

$\displaystyle \textup{Original - Leftover = Pieces Eaten}$

$\displaystyle 20-5=15$

You are given two knowns; the rate of travel is $\displaystyle 55 mph$, and the distance Joe needs to travel is $\displaystyle 385 mi$. To find how long it takes Joe to get to his destination, we can set up a simple algebraic expression. Let $\displaystyle x$ stand for our unknown travel time:

$\displaystyle \left ( 55mph\right ) \times x hrs = 385 mi$   

To solve for $\displaystyle x$, divide both sides by $\displaystyle 55 mph$

$\displaystyle x = 7hrs$