RBAstillero CollegeAlgebra WordProblems

WORD PROBLEMS INVOLVING LINEAR EQUATIONS IN ONE UNKNOWN

A word problem describes a situation involving both known and unknown quantities. Many real-
life problems can be solved by expressing them as word problems that often lead to equations. The
equations that represent a word problem are called mathematical models. The success in working
out word problems depends largely on ones ability to translate it into a mathematical model.
TRANSLATING FROM WORDS TO MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS
Usually there are key words and phrases in a verbal problem that translate into mathematical
expressions involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Translations of some
commonly used expressions follow.















Examples:
Translate each verbal sentence into an equation.
1. Twice a number, decreased by 3, is 42. Answer: 2x 3 = 42.
2. The product of a number and 12, decreased by 7, is 105. Answer: 12x 7 = 105.
3. The quotient of a number and the number plus 4 is 28. Answer:
x
x+4
= 28.
4. The quotient of a number and 4, plus the number, is 10. Answer:
x
4
+ x = 10.
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PROBLEM-SOLVING TECHNIQUES
Probably the most famous study of problem-solving techniques was developed by George Polya
(18881985). Among his many publications was the modern classic How to Solve It. In this book,
Polya proposed a four-step process for problem solving.

Polyas Four-Step Process for Problem Solving
1. Understand the problem. You must first decide what you are to find.
2. Devise a plan. Here are some strategies that may prove useful.
If a formula applies, use it.
Write an equation and solve it.
Draw a sketch.
Make a table or a chart.
Look for a pattern.
Use trial and error.
Work backward.
3. Carry out the plan. This is where the algebraic techniques you learned can be helpful.
4. Look back and check. Is your answer reasonable? Does it answer the question that was
asked?

STEPS IN SOLVING WORDED PROBLEMS
Although no standard technique for solving a word problem is prescribed, the following six steps
are recommended. These steps specifically apply Polyas techniques to word problems in linear
equations.

Step 1 Read the problem carefully until you understand what is given and what is to be found.
Step 2 Assign a variable to represent the unknown value, using diagrams or tables as needed.
Write down what the variable represents. If necessary, express any other unknown values in
terms of the variables.
Step 3 Write an equation using the variable expression(s).
Step 4 Solve the equation.
Step 5 State the answer to the problem. Does it seem reasonable?
Step 6 Check the answer in the words of the original problem.

TYPES OF WORD PROBLEMS
There are many types of word problems, but in this module you will only learn those types that are
very common in engineering applications. The following examples will illustrate how a word
problem is solved using the suggested six steps.

Example 1. Geometry Problem
The length of a rectangle is 1 cm more than twice the width. The perimeter of the rectangle is 110
cm. Find the length and the width of the rectangle.
Solution:
Step 1 Read the problem. What must be found? The length and width of the rectangle.
What is given? The length is 1 cm more than twice the width; the perimeter is 110 cm.


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Step 2 Assign a variable. Choose a variable: let W = the width; then 1 + 2W = the length.


W


1 + 2W

Step 3 Write an equation. The perimeter of a rectangle is given by the formula P = 2L + 2W. Substituting
P = 110, L = 1 + 2W, the required equation is
110 = 2(1 + 2W) + 2W
Step 4 Solve the equation obtained in Step 3.
110 = 2 + 4W + 2W
110 = 2 + 6W
110 2 = 6W
108 = 6W

108
6
= W
18 = W
W = 18 [by symmetric equality axiom]
Step 5 State the answer. The width of the rectangle is 18 cm and the length is 1 + 2(18) = 37 cm.
Step 6 Check the answer by substituting these dimensions into the words of the original problem.

Example 2: Motion Problem
Two cars leave the same place at the same time, one going east and the other west. The eastbound
car averages 40 mph, while the westbound car averages 50 mph. In how many hours will they be
300 mi apart?
Solution:
Step 1 Read the problem. We are looking for the time it takes for the two cars to be 300 mi apart.
Step 2 Assign a variable. A sketch shows what is happening in the problem: The cars are going in opposite
directions.


Let x = the time (in hours) the cars will be 300 mi apart. When the expressions for rate and time
are entered, fill in each distance by multiplying rate by time using the formula d = rt.








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Step 3 Write an equation. From the sketch in step 2, the sum of the two distances is 300. Thus the
equation is 40x + 50x = 300.

Step 4 Solve the equation.
40x + 50x = 300
90x = 300
x =
300
90


x=
10
3
= 3
1
3

Step 5 State the answer. The cars travel 3
1
3
hr or 3 hr 20 min.
Step 6 Check. The eastbound car traveled 40(
10
3
) =
400
3
mi and the westbound car traveled 50(
10
3
) =
500
3
mi,
for a total of
400
3
+
500
3
=
900
3
= 300 mi, as required.

Example 3. Mixture Problem
A chemist must mix 8 L of a 40% acid solution with some 70% solution to get a 50% solution. How much of
the 70% solution should be used?
Solution:
Step 1 Read the problem. The problem asks for the amount of 70% solution to be used.
Step 2 Assign a variable. Let x = the number of liters of 70% solution to be used. The information in the
problem is illustrated in the figure below.








Use the given information to complete a table as shown below.









The numbers in the last column were found by multiplying the strengths and the numbers of
liters. The number of liters of pure acid in the 40% solution plus the number of liters in the
70% solution must equal the number of liters in the 50% solution.

Step 3 Write an equation.
3.2 + 0.70x = 0.50(8 + x)
Step 4 Solve. 3.2 + 0.70x = 4 + 0.50x
0.20x = 0.8
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x = 4
Step 5 State the answer. The chemist should use 4 L of the 70% solution.
Step 6 Check. 8 L of 40% solution plus 4 L of 70% solution is 8(0.40) + 4(0.70) = 6 L of acid.
Similarly, 8 + 4 or 12 L of 50% solution has 12(0.50) = 6L of acid in the mixture. The total
amount of pure acid is 6 L both before and after mixing, so the answer checks.

Example 4. Geometry Problem
Find the value of x, and determine the measure of each angle in the triangle.
Figure:






Solution:
Step 1 Read the problem. We are asked to find the measure of each angle.
Step 2 Assign a variable. Let x represent the measure of one angle.
Step 3 Write an equation. The sum of the three measures shown in the figure must be 180.
x + (x+ 20) + (210 - 3x) = 180
Step 4 Solve. 2x + 230 3x = 180
- x = 180 230
- x = - 50
x = 50
Step 5 State the answer. One angle measures 50, another measures x + 20 = 50 + 20 = 70 , and the third
measures 210 3(50) = 60.
Step 6 Check. Since 50 + 70 + 60 = 180, the answers are correct.

Example 5. Number Relation Problem
Find three consecutive integers such that the sum of the first and third, increased by 3, is 50 more
than the second.
Solution:
Let x represent the first of the unknown integers. Then x + 1 will be the second, and x + 2 will be the
third. The equation we need can be found by going back to the words of the original problem.






Solving the equation: x + x + 2 + 3 = x + 1 + 50
2x + 5 = x + 51
2x x = 51 5
x = 46
Therefore, the three consecutive integers are 46, 47, and 48. (ans.)

Check: 46 + 48 + 3 = 47 + 50
97 = 97
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Example 6. Number Relation Problem

In a certain class, 12 more than
1
3
of all the students are taking a science course and
1
4
of those taking
a science course are also taking mathematics. If
9
16
of all the students in the class are taking
mathematics, how many students are in the class?
Solution:
Let x = the number of students in the class.

1
3
x + 12 = number of students who are taking science course.

9
16
x = number of students who are taking mathematics.

1
4
(
1
3
x + 12) =
1
12
x + 3 = number of students who are taking both science and mathematics.

By Venn Diagram:






(
1
3
x + 12)
1
12
x + 3
9
16
x (
1
12
x + 3)
- (
1
12
x + 3)


science mathematics




1
3
x + 12+
9
16
x (
1
12
x + 3)= x

1
3
x +
9
16
x -
1
12
x x +9 = 0


16+27-4-48
48
x = -9
-
9
48
x = - 9
x = 48

Therefore, there are 48 students in the class.
Check: number of students taking science =
1
3
(48) + 12 = 28
Number of students taking math =
9
16
(48) = 27
Number of students both taking math & science =
1
4
(28) = 7
Number of students taking science only = 28 7 = 21
Number of students taking math only = 27 7 = 20
Total number of students in the class = 7 + 21 + 20 = 48 [check]

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Example 7: Age Problem

A 30-year old father has 4-year old son. In how many years will the father be three times as old as
his son?
Solution:
Let x = number of years, from now, by which the fathers age will be thrice that of his son.
Present age Future age
Father 30 30 + x
Son 4 4 + x

30 + x = 3(4 + x) [why?]
30 + x = 12 + 3x
x = 9
Therefore, 9 years from now the father will be thrice as old as his son.
Check: In 9 years the father will be (30 + 9 =) 39 yrs. of age while his son will be (4 + 9 =) 13 yrs.
old. 39 is 3 times as much as 13, i.e. 3(13) = 39 as required.

Example 8: Age Problem
The sum of Kims and Kevins ages is 18. In 3 years, Kim will be twice as old as Kevin. What are
their ages now?
Solution:
Let x = present age of Kim.
18 x = present age of Kevin.
Present age Future age
Kim x x + 3
Kevin 18 - x
(18 x) + 3
= 21 - x

2(21 - x) = x + 3
42 - 2x = x + 3
3x = 39
x = 13
18 x = 5
Therefore, Kim is 13 yrs. old and Kevin is 5 yrs. old.
Check. In 3 years Kim will be 16 yrs. old while Kevin will be 8 yrs. old; 16 = 2(8).

Example 9. Rate of Work Problem
Lito can do a piece of work in 8 days, while Noli can do the same work in 10 days. In how many
days can they finish the job working together?
Solution:
Let x = the number of days it will take them to finish the job together.

1
8
= the part of the job accomplished by Lito in 1 day.

1
10
= the part of the job accomplished by Noli in 1 day.


1
8
+
1
10
=
1
x

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5+4
40
=
1
x


9
40
=
1
x

x =
40
9
= 4
4
9

Therefore, they will finish the job working together in 4
4
9
days.
Check. The part of the job they will be accomplish in 1 day if working together is
9
40
which is equal
to
1
8
+
1
10
.

Example 10. Rate of Work Problem
Two pipes A and B operate independently at their respective constant rates. Pipe A alone takes 5
hours to fill the tank. When pipes A and B are used simultaneously, it takes them 2 hours to fill the
tank. How long will it take pipe B alone to fill the tank?
Solution:
Let x = number of hours it would take pipe B working alone to fill the tank.

1
x
= part of the tank filled in by B in 1 hour.

1
5
= part of the tank filled in by A in 1 hour.

1
2
= part of the tank filled in by A and B in 1 hour.


1
x
+
1
5
=
1
2

LCD = 10x
10 + 2x = 5x
10 = 3x
3x = 10
x =
10
3

Therefore, it will take pipe B alone to fill the tank in
10
3
or 3
1
3
hours.
Check. Pipes A and B running simultaneously will fill the tank in
1
1
S
+
3
10
=
1
10+1S
S0
=
1
2S
S0
=
50
25
= 2 hours.
Example 11. Digit Problem
The tens digit of a number is 3 less than the units digit. If the number is divided by the sum of the
digits, the quotient is four and the remainder is 3. What is the original number?
Solution:
Let x = the units digit.
x 3 = the tens digit.
2x 3 = sum of digits.
10(x-3) + x = 10x 30 + x = 11x 30 = the number.


11x-30
2x-3
= 4 +
3
2x-3

LCD = 2x 3
11x 30 = 4(2x 3) + 3
11x 30 = 8x 12 + 3
11x 8x = -9 + 30
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3x = 21
x = 7
x 3 = 4
Therefore, the number is 47.
Check: 47 11 = 4
3
11
.

Example 12. Clock Problem
At what time between 4 and 5 oclock will the hands of a clock be (a) opposite each other? (b)
coincident?
Solution:
Let x = the number of minute spaces that the minute hand travels.

x
12
= the number of minute spaces that the hour hand travels.








20 20 x





x
12

x
12

30
x
Figure b
Figure a
(a) From figure a: (b) From figure b:
x = 20 +
x
12
+ 30 x =
x
12
+ 20
(x = 50 +
x
12
) 12 ( x =
x
12
+ 20)12
12x = 600 + x 12x = x + 240
11x = 600 11x = 240
x =
600
11
x =
240
11

x = 54
6
11
minute spaces x = 21
9
11
minute spaces
Therefore, the time at which the hands will be opposite each other is 4: 54
6
11
oclock and the time
the hands will be together (coincident) is 4: 21
9
11
oclock.
Check. Use real watch and check to see if the hands of the clock are opposite or together at the
corresponding time thus obtained.


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6.1

Solve the following problems using the steps suggested in this module.
1. Find three consecutive integers whose sum is 378.
2. One-fifth of a certain number is two more than one-sixth of the number. Find the number.
3. Find two consecutive even integers such that twice the larger is forty less than three times the
smaller.
4. Find two consecutive odd integers such that the difference of their squares is 160.
5. Find three consecutive integers so that twice the first added to five times the second exceeds
three times the third by 51.
6. The sum of two numbers is 9 and their difference is 6. What are the numbers?
7. Find two numbers whose sum is 7, given that one is 3 times the other.
8. The smaller of two numbers is 9 less than the larger, and their sum is 37. Find the numbers.
9. A bird perching on top of a pole watched as a flock of birds passed by in front of him. After a
while another flock was passing by. Out of curiosity he asked the leader of the second group
how many were them. The leader replied, My group is half as much as the first group, but if
you join us well be hundred in all including the first group. How many birds were in the first
and second group?
10. A sum of P2.45 is composed of 5-centavo and 25-centavo coins, there being twice as many 5-
centavo coins as 25-centavo coins. How many 25-centavo coins are there?
11. The attendance in a certain rock concert was 737 persons. If there were 289 more males than
females, how many females were there?
12. The length of a rectangle is 13 inches greater than its width. Its perimeter is 8 feet. Find its
dimensions.
13. A vertical pole was broken by the wind. The upper part, still attached, reached a point on the
level ground 15 feet from the base. If the upper part is 9 feet longer than the lower part, how tall
was the pole?
14. If the width of a rectangle is 2 cm more than one-half its length and its perimeter is 40 cm, what
are the dimensions?
15. The longest side of a triangle is twice as long as the shortest side and 2 cm longer than the third
side. If the perimeter of the triangle is 33 cm, what is the length of each side?
16. The width and length of a rectangle are respectively two less and two more than the length of
the side of a square. If the area of the rectangle is 4 more than the area of the square, find the
dimensions of the rectangle and the area of the square.
17. The length of the rectangle is one more than the width. If the dimensions are both decreased by
2 units, the area of the new rectangle is 30 sq. units less than the area of the original rectangle.
Find the area of the original rectangle.
18. Each equal side of an isosceles triangle is 3
1
2
inches longer than the base. The perimeter of the
triangle is 2 feet. Find the length of the base.
19. A man left one-fourth of his state to his wife, one-fifth to each of his two sons, one-eighth to his
daughter and the remainder, an amount of P32, 000 to charity. Find the amount of the estate.
20. A worker is paid P180.00 for each day of work but is fined P15.00 if he does not report work.
How many days did he work if his net pay in 16 days is P2, 100?
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21. Yen is twice as old as Ben. Four times Yens age four years ago is one year less than three
times Bens age five years from now. How old is each now?
22. Jay is twelve years older than Mario. If Marios age two years from now is half Jays age six
years from now, how old will each be ten years from now?
23. When Fidel and Janette were married, his age was
3
2
of her age. If on their 50
th
wedding
anniversary, Fidels age will be
8
7
of Janettes age, how old will each of them be on their 50
th

wedding anniversary?
24. A man is three times as old as his son. Four years ago he was four times as old as his son was at
that time. How old is the son?
25. The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 15. If the digits are reversed the new number is
nine less than the original number. Find the original number.
26. The units digit of a two-digit number is 5 more than the tens digit. If the digits are reversed and
the new number is divided by the original number the quotient is 2 and the remainder is 7. What
is the original number?
27. The tens digit of a two-digit number is two-thirds that of the units digit. Reversing the digits
give rise to a new number that is 33 more than the original. Find the original number.
28. A storekeeper has candies that sell for P600 and P900 per kilogram. How many kilograms of
each must be mixed together to make 100 kilograms of candy that can be sold for P720per
kilogram?
29. How many liters of pure alcohol must be added to 15 liters of 20 % solution to obtain a mixture
which is 30 % alcohol?
30. How many cubic meters of butterfat must be removed from 500 cubic meters of milk
containing 10 % butterfat to reduce its content to 4% butterfat?
31. How much water must be added to 200 gallons of mixture which is 80 % alcohol to reduce it to
a 75 % mixture?
32. How many ounces of pure nickel must be must be added to 150 ounces of alloy 70 % pure to
make an alloy which is 85 % pure?
33. A math teacher prepared a test consisting of 50 problems worth 2 points, 5 points, and 10 points
each. If the number of 2-point problems is thrice the number of 10-point problems, and the
number of 5-point problems is 10 less than twice the number of 2-point problems, how many
points is the entire test?
34. Two motorists, one travelling 5 kilometers per hour (kph) faster than the other, leave the same
place at the same time and travel in opposite directions. Find the rate of each if they are 195 km
apart after 3 hours?
35. Mark leaves the house for school walking at the rate of 4 kph. Two hours later Joyce follows
Mark at 4.5 kph. How long will it take Joyce to overtake Mark?
36. A train travelling at 60 kph covers a distance in 3 hours. By how many kilometers per hour
must it rate be increased so that it will travel the distance in one-half hour less time?
37. Two buses which are 80 kilometers apart start to travel at the same time toward each other. If
the first bus travels at the rate of 55 kph and the second one at 45 kph, after how many hours
will they meet?
38. A car starts at 7 A.M. and travels at 80 kph. Another car starts at 10 A.M. from the same place
and goes in the same direction. How fast will the second car have to go to catch up with the first
car by 4 P.M. of the same day?
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39. A man walks a certain distance at the rate of 5 miles an hour and returns at the rate of 4 miles
an hour. If the total time that it takes him is 3 hours and 9 minutes, what is the total distance
that he walks?
40. Two automobiles set out simultaneously from places 100 miles apart. They traveled toward
each other and passed at the end of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The speed of one automobile was 5
miles per hour greater than of the other. Find the speed of each.
41. A car 15 feet long overtakes a truck 30 feet long which is traveling at the rate of 45 miles per
hour. How fast must the car travel to pass the truck in 3 seconds?
42. A bullet is fired at target and the sound of its impact is heard 6 seconds later. If it travels at the
rate of 2200 feet per second and sound travels at the rate of 1100 feet per second, how far away
is the target?
43. A and B start at the same time from two places 136 km apart and travel toward each other. A
travels 10 kph and B 8 kph. If B rest 1 hour on the way, in how many hours will they meet?
44. A company has three machines A, B, C used in the production of bolts. A can produce 1000
bolts in 2 hours, B in 2
1
2
hours and C in 6 hours. If A and B worked for 1 hour and then B and C
finished the job, how long did it take to produce 1000 bolts?
45. Twenty laborers could finish a certain job in 35 days. After 11 days, five laborers quit the work
and are not replaced until 4 days. How many more laborers should be added to complete the job
on time?
46. A, B, and C can do a piece of work in 10 days. A and B can do it in 12 days, A and C in 20 days.
How many days would it take each to do the work alone?
47. A tank can be filled by two pipes in 4 and 6 hours, respectively. It can be emptied by a third
pipe in 5 hours. In what time can an empty tank be filled if the three pipes are open?
48. At what time between 2 and 3 oclock will the hands of the clock be at right angle with each
other?
49. It is between 3 and 4 oclock, and in 20 minutes the minute hand will be as much after the hour
hand as it is now behind it. What is the time?
50. How soon after 12:00 P.M. will the hands of the clock extend in opposite directions?