Let x = the weight of the mango, then 7x = the weight of the watermelon.
In these sort of problems, the quantity after the word "than," or in this case "as" should be set equal to x. Then express the other quantity in terms of x.
We also know that the weight of the watermelon = x + 870
We can form the following equation:
7x = x + 870
Both sides of this equation represent the weight of the watermelon. Now, solve this equation for x. You should be able to handle it from here, Tony.
Andrew M.
"A watermelon is 7 times as large as a mango"
This does not equate to the same as a watermelon weighs 7 times
as much as a mango.
A balloon can be 7 times as large as a toy car without weighing
7 times as much. From the way the problem is stated we cannot
determine the total weight other than: 2m + 870
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01/04/17
Andrew M.
w = m + 870
Total weight of watermelon and mango: 2m + 870 grams
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01/04/17
Michael A.
tutor
That is an interesting interpretation of the problem. I know that a lot of you rail against the wording of some of these problems. However, "large" and "heavy" are synonymous linguistically, per Roget's Super Thesaurus, 2nd Edition. Furthermore, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition, defines large as, "exceeding most other things of like kind esp. in quantity or size..." Obviously, a watermelon and a mango are of like kind; they are both fruits. On the other hand, a balloon and a toy car are not of like kind. Could the problem have been phrased differently? Perhaps it could have. One has to take into account the context, as well as the audience.
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01/05/17
Mark M.
01/04/17