Mark B. answered • 09/27/18
Tutor
New to Wyzant
PhD Candidate in Psychology: Experienced Math, Statistics, Tutor
Hello Tommi,
When working with word problems, I suggest you try to underline the important parts which are given. In your problem above, for example, we know Judy has $12 more than Barbara, right? We just do not know how much Barbara has. We also know that together (meaning the sum of the two amounts) will equal $58.00, right?
Now, we can form an equation, and we can also leave off the dollars portion until we are done solving. Therefore:
x = Amount Barbara has.
x + 12 = Amount Judy has "Judy has 12 more than Barbara." We good so far? Great!
Now, according to the problem, when we add these two together they will equal 58. How do we know? The problem tells us "together they have $58.00." So let's put together an equation, fair enough?
x + x + 12 = 58
Now, we can solve this equation, right? Let's do just that.
2x + 12 = 58
2x = 46 <-----subtract 12 from both sides. Remember whatever you do on one side of the equation you must do on the other. Therefore, we can now solve for x.
2x = 46
x = $23 <---The amount Barbara has.
x + 12 = $35 <---The amount Judy has.
Do you remember what x stood for? It represented what Barbara has, right? Therefore, "x + 12" equals the amount Judy has.
Now we need to check our work.
When we use the original equation, do both sides of the equation equal each other? Let's see.
x + (x + 12) = 58
23 + 35 = 58
58 = 58 Yes, both sides of the original equation equal each other so the answer checks. You want to always check your work.
I hope I have assisted you. Please feel free to leave any feedback or questions beneath this answer in the comment section. If you need further tutoring in this area, please feel free to reach out to any of our tutors. Have a great day!
Best!
When working with word problems, I suggest you try to underline the important parts which are given. In your problem above, for example, we know Judy has $12 more than Barbara, right? We just do not know how much Barbara has. We also know that together (meaning the sum of the two amounts) will equal $58.00, right?
Now, we can form an equation, and we can also leave off the dollars portion until we are done solving. Therefore:
x = Amount Barbara has.
x + 12 = Amount Judy has "Judy has 12 more than Barbara." We good so far? Great!
Now, according to the problem, when we add these two together they will equal 58. How do we know? The problem tells us "together they have $58.00." So let's put together an equation, fair enough?
x + x + 12 = 58
Now, we can solve this equation, right? Let's do just that.
2x + 12 = 58
2x = 46 <-----subtract 12 from both sides. Remember whatever you do on one side of the equation you must do on the other. Therefore, we can now solve for x.
2x = 46
x = $23 <---The amount Barbara has.
x + 12 = $35 <---The amount Judy has.
Do you remember what x stood for? It represented what Barbara has, right? Therefore, "x + 12" equals the amount Judy has.
Now we need to check our work.
When we use the original equation, do both sides of the equation equal each other? Let's see.
x + (x + 12) = 58
23 + 35 = 58
58 = 58 Yes, both sides of the original equation equal each other so the answer checks. You want to always check your work.
I hope I have assisted you. Please feel free to leave any feedback or questions beneath this answer in the comment section. If you need further tutoring in this area, please feel free to reach out to any of our tutors. Have a great day!
Best!
