# 3.1 Use a problem-solving strategy  (Page 6/8)

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According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the average cost of a car in 2014 was $28,500. This was$1,500 less than 6 times the cost in 1975. What was the average cost of a car in 1975?

$5,000 U.S. Census data shows that the median price of new home in the United States in November 2014 was$280,900. This was $10,700 more than 14 times the price in November 1964. What was the median price of a new home in November 1964?$19,300

## Key concepts

• Problem-Solving Strategy
1. Read the problem. Make sure all the words and ideas are understood.
2. Identify what we are looking for.
3. Name what we are looking for. Choose a variable to represent that quantity.
4. Translate into an equation. It may be helpful to restate the problem in one sentence with all the important information. Then, translate the English sentence into an algebra equation.
5. Solve the equation using good algebra techniques.
6. Check the answer in the problem and make sure it makes sense.
7. Answer the question with a complete sentence.
• Consecutive Integers
Consecutive integers are integers that immediately follow each other.
$\begin{array}{cccc}\hfill n\hfill & & & {1}^{\text{st}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{integer}\hfill \\ \hfill n+1\hfill & & & {2}^{\text{nd}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{integer consecutive integer}\hfill \\ \hfill n+2\hfill & & & {3}^{\text{rd}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{consecutive integer . . . etc.}\hfill \end{array}$

Consecutive even integers are even integers that immediately follow one another.
$\begin{array}{cccc}\hfill n\hfill & & & {1}^{\text{st}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{integer}\hfill \\ \hfill n+2\hfill & & & {2}^{\text{nd}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{integer consecutive integer}\hfill \\ \hfill n+4\hfill & & & {3}^{\text{rd}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{consecutive integer . . . etc.}\hfill \end{array}$

Consecutive odd integers are odd integers that immediately follow one another.
$\begin{array}{cccc}\hfill n\hfill & & & {1}^{\text{st}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{integer}\hfill \\ \hfill n+2\hfill & & & {2}^{\text{nd}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{integer consecutive integer}\hfill \\ \hfill n+4\hfill & & & {3}^{\text{rd}}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{consecutive integer . . . etc.}\hfill \end{array}$

## Practice makes perfect

Use the Approach Word Problems with a Positive Attitude

In the following exercises, prepare the lists described.

List five positive thoughts you can say to yourself that will help you approach word problems with a positive attitude. You may want to copy them on a sheet of paper and put it in the front of your notebook, where you can read them often.

List five negative thoughts that you have said to yourself in the past that will hinder your progress on word problems. You may want to write each one on a small piece of paper and rip it up to symbolically destroy the negative thoughts.

Use a Problem-Solving Strategy for Word Problems

In the following exercises, solve using the problem solving strategy for word problems. Remember to write a complete sentence to answer each question.

Two-thirds of the children in the fourth-grade class are girls. If there are 20 girls, what is the total number of children in the class?

30

Three-fifths of the members of the school choir are women. If there are 24 women, what is the total number of choir members?

Zachary has 25 country music CDs, which is one-fifth of his CD collection. How many CDs does Zachary have?

125

One-fourth of the candies in a bag of M&M’s are red. If there are 23 red candies, how many candies are in the bag?

There are 16 girls in a school club. The number of girls is four more than twice the number of boys. Find the number of boys.

6

There are 18 Cub Scouts in Pack 645. The number of scouts is three more than five times the number of adult leaders. Find the number of adult leaders.

john is 5years older than wanjiru.the sum of their years is27years.what is the age of each
46
mustee
j 17 w 11
Joseph
john is 16. wanjiru is 11.
Felix
27-5=22 22÷2=11 11+5=16
Joyce
I don't see where the answers are.
Ed
Cindy and Richard leave their dorm in Charleston at the same time. Cindy rides her bicycle north at a speed of 18 miles per hour. Richard rides his bicycle south at a speed of 14 miles per hour. How long will it take them to be 96 miles apart?
3
Christopher
18t+14t=96 32t=96 32/96 3
Christopher
show that a^n-b^2n is divisible by a-b
What does 3 times your weight right now
Use algebra to combine 39×5 and the half sum of travel of 59+30
Cherokee
What is the segment of 13? Explain
Cherokee
my weight is 49. So 3 times is 147
Cherokee
kg to lbs you goin to convert 2.2 or one if the same unit your going to time your body weight by 3. example if my body weight is 210lb. what would be my weight if I was 3 times as much in kg. that's you do 210 x3 = 630lb. then 630 x 2.2= .... hope this helps
tyler
How to convert grams to pounds?
paul
What is the lcm of 340
Yes
Cherokee
How many numbers each equal to y must be taken to make 15xy
15x
Martin
15x
Asamoah
15x
Hugo
1y
Tom
1y x 15y
Tom
find the equation whose roots are 1 and 2
(x - 2)(x -1)=0 so equation is x^2-x+2=0
Ranu
I believe it's x^2-3x+2
NerdNamedGerg
because the X's multiply by the -2 and the -1 and than combine like terms
NerdNamedGerg
find the equation whose roots are -1 and 4
Ans = ×^2-3×+2
Gee
find the equation whose roots are -2 and -1
(×+1)(×-4) = x^2-3×-4
Gee
yeah
Asamoah
there's a chatting option in the app wow
Nana
That's cool cool
Nana
Nice to meet you all
Nana
you too.
Joan
😃
Nana
Hey you all there are several Free Apps that can really help you to better solve type Equations.
Debra
Debra, which apps specifically. ..?
Nana
am having a course in elementary algebra ,any recommendations ?
samuel
Samuel Addai, me too at ucc elementary algebra as part of my core subjects in science
Nana
me too as part of my core subjects in R M E
Ken
at ABETIFI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Ken
ok great. Good to know.
Joan
5x + 1/3= 2x + 1/2
sanam
Plz solve this
sanam
5x - 3x = 1/2 - 1/3 2x = 1/6 x = 1/12
Ranu
Thks ranu
sanam
Erica
the previous equation should be 3x = 1/6 x=1/18
Sriram
for the new one 10x + 2x = 38 - 14
Sriram
12x = 24 x=2
Sriram
10x + 14 = -2x +38 10x + 2x = 38 - 14 12x = 24 divide both sides by the coefficient of x, which is 12 therefore × = 2
vida
a trader gains 20 rupees loses 42 rupees and then gains ten rupees Express algebraically the result of his transactions
a trader gains 20 rupees loses 42 rupees and then gains 10 rupees Express algebraically the result of his three transactions
vinaya
a trader gains 20 rupees loses 42 rupees and then gains 10 rupees Express algebraically the result of his three transactions
vinaya
a trader gains 20 rupees loses 42 rupees and then gains 10 rupees Express algebraically the result of his three transactions
vinaya
Kim is making eight gallons of punch from fruit juice and soda. The fruit juice costs $6.04 per gallon and the soda costs$4.28 per gallon. How much fruit juice and how much soda should she use so that the punch costs \$5.71 per gallon?
(a+b)(p+q+r)(b+c)(p+q+r)(c+a) (p+q+r)
really
Asamoah
4x-7y=8 2x-7y=1 what is the answer?
x=7/2 & y=6/7
Pbp
x=7/2 & y=6/7 use Elimination
Debra
true
bismark
factoriz e
usman
4x-7y=8 X=7/4y+2 and 2x-7y=1 x=7/2y+1/2
Peggie
Frank
thanks
Ramil
x=7/2 y=6/7
Asamoah
Thanks , all of you are correct.
Joseph
copy and complete the table. x. 5. 8. 12. then 9x-5. to the 2nd power+4. then 2xto the second power +3x
What is c+4=8
2
Letha
4
Lolita
4
Rich
4
thinking
C+4=8 -4 -4 C =4
thinking
I need to study
Letha
4+4=8
William