How many pages have been torn from the book?

Ever wondered how to calculate how many pages were removed from a book when someone tears out a few sheets? It can be a bit confusing because book pages are printed on both sides of a sheet of paper, meaning when you tear out one sheet, you’re actually removing two pages at once.

Let’s break it down with an easy example.

Understanding How Pages Are Printed

When we look at a book, each page has a number, but what we might not think about is that those numbers are printed on both sides of a single sheet of paper. So, if you tear out a sheet, you’re actually removing two numbered pages.

For instance:

  • Pages 7 and 8 are printed on the same sheet. So, if you tear that sheet out, both pages 7 and 8 are gone.
  • The same is true for other consecutive page numbers like 100 and 101—they share one sheet of paper.
  • Similarly, pages 222 and 223 are also printed on a single sheet.

Counting the Torn Pages

Let’s go over a specific example where pages 7 and 8, 100 and 101, and 222 and 223 are torn out of the book.

  1. Pages 7 and 8 are on the same sheet, so tearing out this one sheet removes both pages. That’s 2 pages gone.
  2. Pages 100 and 101 are also on the same sheet, so removing that sheet takes out another 2 pages.
  3. Pages 222 and 223 follow the same rule: tearing out their sheet means 2 more pages are removed.

In total, while you’ve only torn out 3 sheets of paper, you’ve actually removed 6 pages from the book. This is because each sheet contains two pages printed on either side.

Why Does This Matter?

Whether you’re trying to figure out how many pages are missing from a book or just curious about how books are printed, it’s important to understand that one sheet of paper equals two pages. So, when you’re assessing how much of the book is gone, always count each sheet as containing two pages.


By breaking down the process like this, you can easily understand how book pages are structured and how to calculate how many pages were torn out. This method applies to most books, whether you’re dealing with a novel, a textbook, or even a notebook.

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