1. **State the problem:** You start with 24 cookies and eat 2 cookies each day. We want to find an equation that shows how many cookies you have left after $x$ days. 2. **Identify variables:** Let $x$ be the number of days, and $y$ be the number of cookies left. 3. **Write the formula:** The number of cookies left decreases by 2 each day, so the equation is a linear function with slope $-2$ and initial amount 24. 4. **Form the equation:** $$y = -2x + 24$$ 5. **Explain:** The slope $-2$ means you lose 2 cookies per day, and the intercept 24 means you start with 24 cookies. 6. **Check other options:** - $y = -2x - 24$ starts at $-24$ cookies, which is impossible. - $y = 2x - 24$ increases cookies over time, which is incorrect. - $y = 24x - 2$ increases cookies drastically, also incorrect. **Final answer:** $$y = -2x + 24$$