1.The ratio of two numbers is 5 to 1. The sum is 18. What are the two numbers?

Solution

Let x be the first number. Let y be the second number

x/y=5/1

x + y = 18

Using x / y = 5 / 1, we get x = 5y after doing cross multiplication

Replacing x = 5y into x + y = 18, we get 5y + y = 18

6y = 18

y=3

x = 5y = 5 × 3 = 15

As you can see, 15/3 = 5, so ratio is correct and 3 + 15 = 18, so the sum is correct.
2. Peter has six times as many dimes as quarters in her piggy bank. She has 21 coins in her piggy bank
totaling $2.55

How many of each type of coin does she have?

Solution

Let x be the number of quarters. Let 6x be the number of dimes

Since one quarter equals 25 cents, x quarters equals x × 25 cents or 25x cents

Since one dime equals 10 cents, 6x dimes equals 6x × 10 cents or 60x cents

Since one 1 dollar equals 100 cents, 2.55 dollars equals 2.55 × 100 = 255 cents

Putting it all together, 25x cents + 60x cents = 255 cents

85x cents = 255 cents

85x cents / 85 cents = 255 cents / 85 cents

x=3

6x = 6 × 3 = 18

Therefore Peter has 3 quarters and 18 dimes

3. The area of a rectangle is x2 + 4x -12. What are the dimensions of the rectangle (length and width)?

Solution

The main idea is to factor x2 + 4x -12

Since -12 = -2 × 6 and -2 + 6 = 4

x2 + 4x -12 = ( x + -2) × ( x + 6)

Since the length is usually longer, length = x + 6 and width = x + -2

Example #9: A must know how when solving algebra word problems

The area of a rectangle is 24 cm2. The width is two less than the length. What is the length and width of
the rectangle?

Solution

Let x be the length and let x - 2 be the width

Area = length × width = x × ( x - 2) = 24

x × ( x - 2) = 24

x2 + -2x = 24
x2 + -2x - 24 = 0

Since -24 = 4 × -6 and 4 + -6 = -2, we get:

(x + 4) × ( x + -6) = 0

This leads to two equations to solve:

x + 4 = 0 and x + -6 = 0

x + 4 = 0 gives x = -4. Reject this value since a dimension cannot be negative

x + -6 = 0 gives x = 6

Therefore, length = 6 and width = x - 2 = 6 - 2 = 4

The area of a rectangle is 24 cm2. The width is two less than the length. What is the length and width of
the rectangle?
Solution

Let x be the length and let x - 2 be the width

Area = length × width = x × ( x - 2) = 24

x × ( x - 2) = 24

x2 + -2x = 24

x2 + -2x - 24 = 0

Since -24 = 4 × -6 and 4 + -6 = -2, we get:

(x + 4) × ( x + -6) = 0

This leads to two equations to solve:

x + 4 = 0 and x + -6 = 0

x + 4 = 0 gives x = -4. Reject this value since a dimension cannot be

negative

x + -6 = 0 gives x = 6
Therefore, length = 6 and width = x - 2 = 6 - 2 = 4

5. The sum of two numbers is 16. The difference is 4. What are the two numbers?
Let x be the first number. Let y be the second number

x + y = 16

x-y=4

Solution

Let x be the first number. Let y be the second number

x + y = 16

x-y=4

Solve the system of equations by elimination

Adding the left sides and the right sides gives:

x + x + y + -y = 16 + 4

2x = 20

x = 10
Since x + y = 16, 10 + y = 16

10 + y = 16

10 - 10 + y = 16 - 10

y=6

The numbers are 10 and 6