word problems

Question

In driving from city A to city B you pass through city C. It is 50 miles farther from city A to city C than from city C to city B. If it is 320 miles from city A to city B, how far is it from city A to city C?

Answer 1

Let x = the distance from city C to city B.

 

Then x + 50 = the distance from city A to city C

 

the sum of those values is 320 miles

 

So, our equation becomes x + (x + 50) = 320, which becomes 2x + 50 = 320, and 2x = 270 miles

 

solving, x = 135 miles, and x + 50 = 185 miles

 

We see that 135 miles + 185 miles = 320 miles