need math help..

[coolbeans]

please don't laugh.. I have a friend that is testing for her GED soon and has two questions on her practice test that she can't figure out, and either can myself and two of my other co-workders.. help oh wise Dissers.......

Shopper's Paradise had 25 customers on a certain day. Bonnie waited on 4 customers more than twice the number of customers waited on by Max. How many customers did Max wait on?
(1) 7
(2) 6
(3) 5
(4) 4
(3) 3


Jerry is 6 more than 3 times as old as his son. Together they are 46 years old. How old is Jerry?
(1) 4
(2) 12
(3) 24
(4) 36
(5) 48


and how the heck you got your answer would be nice to know.. I usually can rationalize stuff like this out but I must be getting old.

thanks!!!

 

[marlynnp]

#1) 25 - 4 / 3 = 7

 

[marlynnp]

#2) 46 - 6 / 4 = 10
10 * 3 + 6 = 36 (Jerry's Age)

 

[katiebelle21]

Jerry is 6 more than 3 times as old as his son. Together they are 46 years old. How old is Jerry?
(1) 4
(2) 12
(3) 24
(4) 36
(5) 48


Jerry is 36. 36-6=30 30/3=10 The son is 10.

36 + 10=46

 

[ZephyrHawk]

#2- Jerry is 36

x- son's age
3x+6 = Jerry's age
3x+ 6 + x = 4x +6 = 46
4x= 40
x= 10

3x + 6 = 36

However, I disagree with the answer to the first one. If Max helped 7 customers, then twice that is 14 and plus four is 18. However, I think it is merely incorrect wording of the question. And that the answer given above is what is intended to be the correct answer. As it's currently worded all the answers are options because all of those number could be doubled and have 4 added, and still be less than or equal to 25. There is no indication that Bonnie and Max are the only store workers.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I respectfully disagree with Zephyrhawk's assessment of the answer to question 1.
Bonnie waited on, effectively, Max + Max + 4:
25 - 4 = 21
21 / 3 = 7
7 * 2 = 14
14 + 4 = 18
18 + 7 = 25
Or, working it out the way the above poster answers question 2:
x = Max's customers
2x + 4 = Bonnie's customers
2x + 4 + x = 3x + 4 = 25
3x = 21
x = 7
Max waited on seven customers, Bonnie waited on eighteen customers. While it's true we don't know how many employees Shopper's Paradise had on duty during the time in question, it is reasonable to presume just the two of them.

and how the heck you got your answer would be nice to know..

How we worked it out is more than just "nice to know". Your friend NEEDS to know how to work out word problems on her own. The DIS won't be at the test site to help her

 

[coolbeans]

dern ya'll are awesome!!!! thanks a bunch!!!

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I respectfully disagree with Zephyrhawk's assessment of the answer to question 1.

I see your analysis, but I still say there's an issue of there being no specification that only Bonnie and Max work the store. If Max served only three customers, then together they would have served 13 (3+3+3+4)....and an unnamed and unnumbered group of employees could have served the remaining 12 customers.

 

[dalt01]

max indeed waited on 7 customers and jerry is 36, whos on first? it actually took about 45 seconds for each one.

 

[mikki'smom]

1. Max= x
Bonnie= 2x+4

Max + Bonnie = 25 so,
x + 2x +4 = 25
3x + 4 = 25
3x = 21
x=7

Therefore, Max =7 and Bonnie = 18


2. Jerry's son= x
Jerry = 3x+6

together x+ 3x + 6 = 46
4x+6= 46
4x = 40
x= 10
Therefore, the son is 10 and Jerry is 36


A piece of cake.

 

[luv2laugh]

I used the substitution method to solve both of the questions. Once you have the steps down, it's pretty easy to figure out any of these problems. It might take a little longer, but the answer will always be right:
Step 1: Create two different equations..
Step 2: Solve one equation for a variable (such as 'm' or 's')
Step 3: Plug the step 2 equation in for a variable in the other equation & solve
Step 4: Solve for the remaining variable

It's a LOT easier than it sounds!

Problem 1:
Step 1:
m + b = 25 (max's customers + bonnie's customers)
2m + 4 = b (twice max's customers + 4 = bonnie's customers)

Step 2:
m + b = 25 (solve for b)
b = 25 - m

Step 3: Substitute the step 2 equation for the variable
2m + 4 = 25 - m (Plug in 25-m in for 'b', since they were equal in the step 2 equation)
2m+m = 25 - 4
3m= 21
m=7

Step 4: (In this case we don't need to, but it still might help in other questions)
7 + b = 25
b = 18

Since m=7, Max waited on 7 customers


Problem 2:
Step 1:
s + j = 46 (son's age + Jerry's age = 46)
3s + 6 = j (3 times son's age + 6 = Jerry's age)

Step 2:
s+j = 46
s = 46 - j

Step 3:
3(46-j) + 6 = j
138 - 3j + 6 = j
138 + 6 = 4j
144 = 4j
36 = j

Step 4: (Once again, not needed. If you had solved for 'j' in step 2, you would need to use this step though)
s + 36 = 46
s = 10


I'm very much a visual learner; seeing these steps written out helps me a lot! Perhaps this way might "click" with your friend!

 

[dalt01]

I used the substitution method to solve both of the questions. Once you have the steps down, it's pretty easy to figure out any of these problems. It might take a little longer, but the answer will always be right:
Step 1: Create two different equations..
Step 2: Solve one equation for a variable (such as 'm' or 's')
Step 3: Plug the step 2 equation in for a variable in the other equation & solve
Step 4: Solve for the remaining variable

It's a LOT easier than it sounds!

Problem 1:
Step 1:
m + b = 25 (max's customers + bonnie's customers)
2m + 4 = b (twice max's customers + 4 = bonnie's customers)

Step 2:
m + b = 25 (solve for b)
b = 25 - m

Step 3: Substitute the step 2 equation for the variable
2m + 4 = 25 - m (Plug in 25-m in for 'b', since they were equal in the step 2 equation)
2m+m = 25 - 4
3m= 21
m=7

Step 4: (In this case we don't need to, but it still might help in other questions)
7 + b = 25
b = 18

Since m=7, Max waited on 7 customers


Problem 2:
Step 1:
s + j = 46 (son's age + Jerry's age = 46)
3s + 6 = j (3 times son's age + 6 = Jerry's age)

Step 2:
s+j = 46
s = 46 - j

Step 3:
3(46-j) + 6 = j
138 - 3j + 6 = j
138 + 6 = 4j
144 = 4j
36 = j

Step 4: (Once again, not needed. If you had solved for 'j' in step 2, you would need to use this step though)
s + 36 = 46
s = 10


I'm very much a visual learner; seeing these steps written out helps me a lot! Perhaps this way might "click" with your friend!

i just use logic. 7 and 7 is 14 and 4 more is 18 add the 7 back in you have 25. answer has to be 7. also dont MAKE it hard you only have to worry about 5 possible answers so work backwards from them rather than trying to solve from the front.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I do agree there are, or could be, unnamed variables. If the OP's friend was taking a classroom test - where she could ultimately prove to the teacher that ANY of the answers would be possible (based on the lack of absolutes) - I think the GED is like the SATs? If I'm right, the taker just fills in bubbles on the answer sheet and the test is scored by a computer.


So, question to the OP: how is the GED scored? Would ZephyrHawk's point that the question is not specific enough for a single correct response work? It's a valid point. I know I'd argue it but will your friend have the opportunity?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, yeah - coolbeans - could we have some more questions, please?