Question

some say that to brew an excellent cup of coffee, you must have a brewing temperature off 200 degrees, plus or minus five degrees. Write and solve an equation describing the maximum and minimum brewing temperatures for an excellent cup of coffee

Answer 1

Your equation for the maximum brewing temperature should be x = 200 + 5 because according to your word problem, the temp. can be five degrees above 200 degrees. 

x = 200 + 5 
x = 205

Your equation for the minimum brewing temperature should be x = 200 - 5 because according to your word problem, the temp. can be five degrees below 200 degrees.

x = 200 - 5
x = 195