SOLUTIONS TO (selected) WORD PROBLEMS:

I- Number Relations: 3. let 2x = the smaller number 5x = the bigger number Equation: 2x + 5x = 98 4. let x = the denominator of the original fraction 2x + 5 = the numerator of the original fraction 2x + 10 = the numerator is increased by 5 x 2 = the denominator is decreased by 2 Equation: 2x + 10 5 = x2 2

7. Let x = the number,

1 x

= the reciprocal of the number 5 1 = x 2

Equation: x +

II- Age Problems: 2. Let x = the daughters age, Daughter Mother Now x 4x + 5 6 Years From Now x+6 4x + 11

Equation: 4x + 11 = 3(x + 6) 3. Let x = the number of years ago that Adam was thrice as old as Kris Adam Kris Now 33 17 x years ago 33 x 17 x

Equation: 33 x = 3(17 x) 4. Let x = Karens present age 3 years ago Abi Karen x3 Now 2x + 3 x in 3 years 2x + 6

Equation: 2x + 6 = 4(x 3)

III- Geometry Problems: 4. Let x = length of the shorter leg, 3x 4 = length of the hypotenuse, 2x + 4 = length of the longer leg Equation: x2 + (2x + 4)2 = (3x 4)2 (Pythagorean Thm.)

6. Let x = width of the path

12 + 2x = length of the garden with the path 8 + 2x = width of the garden with the path (12 + 2x)(8 + 2x) = area of the garden with the path (8)(12) = 96 = area of the garden alone Equation: (12 + 2x)(8 + 2x) 96 = 96
Area of the Path Alone

7. Let x = the length of the side of the square garden

Then, (x 8) = side of the remainder that has yet to be mowed, Note: Since,
3 4

has been mowed, then the remainder is x2 4

1 4

of the original area.

Equation: (x 8)2 =

IV- Investment Problems 3. Let x = the amount invested by Lucky Lucky John Principal x x + 3, 000 Rate 12% 8% Income 0.12(x) 0.08(x + 3, 000)

Equation: 0.12(x) = 0.08(x + 3, 000) + 240 V- Mixture Problems 2. Let x = amount of water to be added 70% 0% 30% + = 30 L xL (30 + x) L Equation: 0.7(30) + 0(x) = 0.3(30 + x) 3. Let x = amount of pure antifreeze to be added 30% + 50 L xL 100% = (50 + x) L 60%

Equation: 0.3(50) + 1(x) = 0.6(50 + x) 5. Let x = amount of 30% alcohol solution 30% 55% 40% + = xL (150 x) L 150 L Equation: 0.3(x) + 0.55(150 x) = 0.4(150) VI- Work Problems 4. Let x = time for Je to clean the room alone Time Rate 5 2 hrs Chino 2 5 1 Je x x 2 1 Together + 5 x Note: 1 2 3 2 1 + 5 x 2 5 = part of the job Chino nishes alone in 1 hour = part of the job the two nish in working together for 40 minutes 2 5 + 2 3 2 1 + 5 x =1

Equation: 1

5. Let x = the number of hours for Gelain to nish the job Time Gelain Annie Together x x+4 3 4 4 Rate 1 x 1 x+4 4 19

Equation:

1 1 4 + = x x+4 19

6. Let x = time for Cath to nish the job alone y = time for Joy to nish the job alone Time Cath Joy Together Note: 3 4 1 y = 1 x x y 3 Rate 1 x 1 y 3 10

1 3 3 = = part of the job Cath does in 3 hours alone x

4 = part of the job that Joy nishes in 4 hours alone y 1 3 1 + = , x y 10 3 4 + =1 x y 1 1 and v = ) x y

Thus, we have the equations:

(Hint: You can solve the system by letting u =

7. Let x = the time it takes to ll the pool when all three are left open Time Pipe A Pipe B Pipe C Together Equation: 3 4 6 x Rate 1 3 1 4 1 6 1 x

1 1 1 1 + = 3 4 6 x 1 Note: We write since the 3rd Pipe drains the pool, and therefore, subtracts from the total work 6 done.

VII- Uniform Motion Problems 5. Let x = rate of the boat in still water y = rate of the current Time 4 16 Downstream 48 km x+y 5 We have the following equations, using d = rt, Upstream Equations: 36 = 4(x y ), 48 = 16 (x + y ) 5 Distance 36 km Rate xy

VIII- Miscellaneous Problems 1. Let x = the number of cows y = the number of chickens Equations: x + y = 75; 4x + 2y = 194

2. Let x = the number of P20 bills, y = the number of P50 bills Equations: x + y = 36; 20x + 50y = 1, 110

3. Let x = the number of 5-cent coins, y = the number of 10-cent coins, z = the number of 25-cent coins x + y + z = 80 Equations: 0.5(x) + 0.10(y ) = 5.70 0.5(x) + 0.25(z ) = 4.20