College Algebra Word Problems. NEED HELP BAD.

Question

I'm in College Algebra and our lesson is on word problems. It's due tomorrow and I can't fully understand how to set up the equation. help me, please. Question: A patients temperature was taken at 6 am, noon, 3 pm, and 8 pm. The first, third, and fourth readings were 102.5, 101.5, and 102. The nurse forgot to write the second reading down, but recorded that the average of the four readings was 101.5. what was the second temperature reading?

Answer 1

Let x = the missing temperature

 

Then, (102.5 + x + 101.5 + 102)/4 = 101.5

 

Solve for x.  

 

 

Answer 2

(102.5+x+101.5+102)/4=101.5

 

first multiply by 4 on both sides of the equal sign.

 

102.5+x+101.5+102 = 101.5 X4=406

 

second: add the 102.5, 101.5, and 102 together to get 306.

 

now the equation is:

 

306 + x = 406

 

finally subtract 306 from both sides of the equation to get the answer.

 

-306 +306+x = 406-306=100

 

so x=100

Answer 3

The average of the 4 readings would be the sum of  the readings divided by the number of readings which is 4 in this case.

 

let x be the patient's second recorded temperature

 

(102.5+101.5+102+x) / 4 = 101.5

 

306 + X = 406

 

x = 100 that  was  the reading  of the second measurement.