This question is really confusing please help

Question

you rent a canoe for $5 per hour. Your cost before the tax is added is $12.50. Write and solve an equation to find the number of hours that you rented the canoe.

Answer 1

The easiest way to do this is by setting up your units so that they cancel to give you what you want.  You are looking for hours, and you are given both a rate ($5/hour) and a final amount ($12.50).

 

($12.50) /  ($5/hour) = 2.5 hours

 

Now just convert 2.5 hours into actual time units, (2 hours, 30 minutes)

 

Let's write this into a variable equation.  Let's call t the "total cost" and c the "hourly cost" and h "hours rented."

 

t/c = h

 

Hope this helps!