5th Grade Algebra Word Problem

Question

Sarah baby-sat 7 times as many hours during summer break as she did during spring break. She baby-sat a total of 56 hours during both breaks. How many hours did Sarah baby-sit during spring break?

Answer 1

The best way to figure this answer out is to recognize that question states that you should break up the total amount of hours into 8 equal parts.

If she babysat for 7 times as many hours during the summer, it means that was 7 parts and the spring was 1 part that is equivalent to each of the 7 parts of the summer. 

With that said, you should take the total amount of hours, which is 56, and divide it by 8 (since that's how many equal parts it includes. 

 

56hrs/8 equal parts= 7hrs per part.

 

This means that during the summer she baby sat for 7× 7hrs=49 hrs

And during the spring she babysat for 1×7hrs=7hrs.

Answer 2

x: number of hours Sarah baby-sat during summer break

y: number of hours Sarah baby-sat during spring break

 

x=7y (since number of hours she baby-sat during the summer break is 7 times the hours she baby-sat during spring break)

 

total number of hours she baby-sat = x+y = 56

since x=7y

7y+y=56 ------->8y=56 ------> y=56/8 = 7

 

x=7*7=49

 

Sarah baby-sat 7 hours during the spring break and 49 hours during summer break