Help with math problem

[crashbb]

on the lsast one I have this so far...

S= w+10
G=W-6
S+W+G=226

VERY GOOD!

Now, just substitute the S and G in your final equation with the first two equations - that way you only have one variable.

 

[laurie31]

on the lsast one I have this so far...

S= w+10
G=W-6
S+W+G=226

Almost. What you need is (w +10) + W + (W - 6) = 226

You only need ONE variable or you can't solve it. Go back and look at my post again.

 

[luvmyfam444]

You cannot have more variables than you have equations. All the examples you've shown us have one equation (you have one total), so need one variable.

As a hint, for the other example you have, use Wiley's points as your X (or W). Define Sylvia and Greg by how much more/less they scored than Wiley.

I saw that there were two houses therefore I thought 2 variables....

 

[luvmyfam444]

I always recommend that students write out (in sentence form) what the equations are (shoving in Xs).

So:
Wins + Loses = Total Games
2x + X = 36

That way, you'd see that you were missing the X representing loses.

Also, I find it easier to use a letter than has some meaning (rather than an X). So, I'd use L (for loses), just to remind me what I was using as my reference (so at the end, I wouldn't think that X represented the wins).

AHHH! A TEACHER! Whoo Hoo! I need all the remedial math help I can find! I go to tutoring once a week & I STILL can't get it!

 

[crashbb]

I saw that there were two houses therefore I thought 2 variables....

But in order to solve the problem you need to be able to write the one equation (house 1 plus house 2 = 4400 sq feet), you can only have one variable. Therefore, you need to describe one of the variable in terms of the other.

So:
House 1 = X
House 2 = 2X-1000

OR
House 2=X
House 1=0.5(X+1000)

Choose which ever one is easier (i.e. option 1, which doesn't have a fraction).

There is no way to solve the equation if you have:
X+Y=4400 (where X is house 1 and Y is house 2).

 

[crashbb]

AHHH! A TEACHER! Whoo Hoo! I need all the remedial math help I can find! I go to tutoring once a week & I STILL can't get it!

Actually, I only tutor.

Well, I do work as a teaching assistant, but it is epidemiology and biostatistics to graduate students. Come to think of it though, I still tell them to write things out. And I still do it myself.

 

[luvmyfam444]

But in order to solve the problem you need to be able to write the one equation (house 1 plus house 2 = 4400 sq feet), you can only have one variable. Therefore, you need to describe one of the variable in terms of the other.

So:
House 1 = X
House 2 = 2X-1000

OR
House 2=X
House 1=0.5(X+1000)

Choose which ever one is easier (i.e. option 1, which doesn't have a fraction).

There is no way to solve the equation if you have:
X+Y=4400 (where X is house 1 and Y is house 2).

Yep - that's what I found - not way to solve it. I was stuck - I was thinking I was writing it out in words correctly.

Like the Sylvia one - using their initials & writing it out that way.

But figureing out the one variable part has me stuck. That doesn't jump out to me.

 

[luvmyfam444]

I'm thinking I'm doomed tomorrow!

 

[luvmyfam444]

Almost. What you need is (w +10) + W + (W - 6) = 226

You only need ONE variable or you can't solve it. Go back and look at my post again.

I didn't see your post when I posted my way of working it out. I think I see it now...I'm gonna work the problem out on my own again & see if I can think thru the language - why they are set up this way.

And then find some more problems....MAYBE I can get it in one night!

 

[hambirg]

Yep - that's what I found - not way to solve it. I was stuck - I was thinking I was writing it out in words correctly.

Like the Sylvia one - using their initials & writing it out that way.

But figureing out the one variable part has me stuck. That doesn't jump out to me.

If you are struggling with it, you don't want to do it that way. . .it looks way more complicated than it is and makes it messy. Keep it simple.

Figure out which one is the one that all the others are related to.

ie. . in order to figure out Sylvia, I have to know Willie.

Which ever is the one you have to know to be able to figure the others is x.

Does that make sense?

 

[laurie31]

I'm thinking I'm doomed tomorrow!

No, don't think that, or it will come true! You are making this more complicated than it is.

In all of the problems you posted, there is one value that all the others are related to. Wiley's score was more or less than the other students' scores, the games won were more than the games lost. They relate to each other.

That item that the others relate to is your single variable. You can call it X or use the suggestion of the first letter of what it represents. W for Wiley's score, or L for games lost.

Then you assign value to the other things by how they relate to the variable.
Games won is twice L; that means 2L. Greg's score is Wiley's score - 6, so W-6.

Then you can line them all up and solve for the unknown.

 

[luvmyfam444]

ok - I'm thinking I can get it...

So you won't ever have to variables then?

 

[crashbb]

ok - I'm thinking I can get it...

So you won't ever have to variables then?

Based on the questions that you've posted, no.

There are examples where you'd have two variables, but then you'd also have two totals. These are more complex though.

Don't give up about your test. You are so close to getting it. You had everything set up correctly, you just did think to sub-in for S and (using the equations you had already figured out). One wee little step further and you'd have had it.

 

[laurie31]

ok - I'm thinking I can get it...

So you won't ever have to variables then?

Not in questions like these.

You will get to those type problems...but don't worry about that tonight!!

Try this strategy:
Read the word problem. Don't try to figure anything out yet. Then read it again. See if you notice which thing is the one that the others relate to. If not, try writing it down, like you did with the test score problem. You had the right set-up with W, W -6 and W+10. Then all you have to do is add them together and solve for your unknown.

Post another problem and talk through it here.

You can do this, I promise!!

 

[luvmyfam444]

Thanks for the help guys! I'm gonna get to studying some more math & then some of the other subjects & get to bed in a bit - I have to be there @ 7:30 a.m. & its about a 45 min drive from here! UGH!