What is the average miles per gallon for an SUV

Question

A small car averages up to 29 more miles per gallon of gas than an SUV. If a small car averages 44 miles per gallon, what is the average miles per gallon for an SUV?

Answer 1

Since you mentioned "Solving Inequalities By Adding Or Subtracting,"

 

Let x = miles per gallon for an SUV

     y = miles per gallon for a small car

 

Translate:

  "A small car averages up to 29 more miles per gallon of gas than an SUV"  means

               y                   ≤     29    +                                 x    

 

  "a small car averages 44 miles per gallon"    means

               y        =       44  

 

  "what is the average miles per gallon for an SUV?"   means    find x

 

The math:

   y ≤ 29 + x

   44 ≤ 29 + x             [substitute the value for y]

   15 ≤ x           [subtract positive 29 from both sides retains sense of inequality]

   x ≥ 15          [write in reverse order]

Read this as, "An SUV averages at least 15 miles per gallon of gas."

 (note: if x is less than 15, then y can't be 44, because y≤29+x)

Answer 2

A small car average 44 mi/gallon

 

So a SUV average up 44-29=15  mi/gallon

 

So SUV average up to 15mi/gallon