Equation Solver

Question

The average length of a yellow-banded angelfish is 12 inches. This is 4.8 times as long as an common goldfish. Write an eqaution to find the length of the average common goldfish.

Answer 1

Hi Paige,

 

The key here is to interpret the sentence "This is 4.8 times as long as a common goldfish."  It kind of bends your brain to realize that this means you have to multiply the goldfish by 4.8.  We can look at it this way.  We'll make some substitutions:

 

This is 4.8 times as long as a common goldfish.

 

Replace "This" with "length angelfish".

 

length angelfish is 4.8 times as long as a common goldfish.

 

"is" means "="

 

length angelfish = 4.8 times as long as a common goldfish.

 

Replace  "as long as" with "length"

 

length angelfish = 4.8 times length common goldfish

 

replace "times" with "x"

 

length angelfish   = 4.8 x length common goldfish

 

Come up with variable names.  Let A be the length of an angelfish, and G the length of a common goldfish. 

 

A = 4.8 x G

 

So now you've translated the English sentence to an equation.  All you have to do now is solve for G, because you were asked for the length of the common goldfish.  Can I trust you to divide both sides by 4.8?

 

Cheers,

Mike N.