MATH 1702 Week 8 1|Page

Translating Sentences into Equations

To do this we will follow the same translation rules that we used earlier in the lecture, with the addition
of translating “is” or “is equal to” to an equal sign (=).

Example: Translate “five less than a number is thirteen” into an equation and solve.

Consecutive Integers

Consecutive Integers refers to integers that follow one after the other on the number line.

For example,

Or in general,

Consecutive Even Integers refers to even integers that follow one after the other on the number line.

For example,

Or in general,

Consecutive Odd Integers refers to odd integers that follow one after the other on the number line.

For example,

Or in general,

Example: The sum of three consecutive odd integers is forty-five. Find the integers.

Example: Find three consecutive even integers such that three times the second equals four more than
the sum of the first and third.
MATH 1702 Week 8 2|Page

Example: The fee charged by a ticketing agency for a concert is $3.50 plus $17.50 for each ticket. If your
total charge for tickets is $161, how many tickets did you purchase?

Example: A wire 22 inches long is cut into two pieces. The length of the longer piece is 4 inches more
than twice the length of the shorter piece. Find the length of each piece.

*Try These: Pg. 317 #9-30, 32-48

MATH 1702 Week 8 3|Page

Mixtures and Uniform Motion Problems

The solution of a value mixture problem is based on the value mixture equation, 𝐴𝐶 = 𝑉, where 𝐴 is the
amount of an ingredient, 𝐶 is the cost per unit of the ingredient, and 𝑉 is the value of the ingredient.

Strategy for Solving a Value Mixture Problem

1. For the blend and each ingredient in the mixture, write a numerical or variable expression for
the amount used, the unit cost, and the value of the amount.
2. Determine how the values of the ingredients are related. Use the fact that the sum of the values
of all ingredients is equal to the value of the blend.

Example: A coffee merchant wants to make 6 lb of a blend of coffee costing $5 per pound. The blend is
made using $7-per-pound grade and $4-per-pound grade of coffee. How many pound of each of these
grades should be used?

Example: One metal alloy costs $4 per ounce, while a second costs $6 per ounce. There is currently 10
ounces of the second alloy available to be used. How much of the $4 alloy must be mixed with the 10
ounces of $6 alloy to create a mixture that is worth $4.32 per ounce?
MATH 1702 Week 8 4|Page

Strategy for Solving Uniform Motion Problems

1. For each object, write a numerical or variable expression for the rate, time, and distance.
2. Determine how the distance travelled by the two objects are related. For example, the total
distance travelled by both objects may be known, or it may be known that the two objects
travelled the same distance.

Example: A car leaves a town travelling at 40 mph. Two hours later, a second car leaves the same town,
on the same road, travelling at 60 mph. In how many hours will the second car pass the first car?

Example: Two cars, one travelling 10 mph faster than the other, start at the same time from the same
point and travel in opposite directions. In 3 hours, they are 300 miles apart. Find the rate of each car.

*Try These: Pg. 325 #7-22, 27-40

MATH 1702 Week 8 5|Page

Solving Equations Containing Fractions

For equations that are made of large fractions, our method for solving involves getting rid of all the
fractions. To do this we find the least common multiple (or any multiple will do) of all the denominators,
and multiply each term by it.

Example: Solve the following

3𝑥 𝑥 2 3𝑥−1 2 7
5
− 3 = 15 4
+3 =6

*Try These: Pg. 615 #8-13

MATH 1702 Week 8 6|Page

Literal Equations

A Literal Equation is an equation that contains more than one variable.

For example,

With more than one variable, these equations can’t be solved to get a numerical solution, but they can
be solved for an expression. To do this, follow the same steps as before when solving equations.

Example: Solve 𝐴 = 𝑃(1 + 𝑖) for 𝑖

Example: Solve 𝐿 = 𝑎(1 + 𝑐𝑡) for 𝑐

𝑅−𝐶
Example: Solve 𝑃 = 𝑛
for 𝑅

*Try These: Pg. 620 #5-15