Which equation can be used to find the number of wolves in the state on january 1? a zoologist is recording the loss of wolves in her state. she notes the number of wolves, w, in the state on january 1. one year later, there were 84 wolves in the state, which is 23 fewer wolves than were in the state a year earlier. what is the number of wolves in the state on january 1? w−84=−23 w−23=84 23−w=84 w + 23 = 84