Math Word Problems and Solutions

BICOL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
In partial fulfillment of the requirements to be

submitted to Engr. Atanacio A. Barajas Jr.
Prepared by:
KRISTEN GAIL N. MANLAPAZ
BS ARCHITECTURE 1C
NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014
Age problems are algebra word problems that deal with the ages
of people currently, in the past or in the future.
If the problem involves a single person, then it is similar to an
Integer Problem. Read the problem carefully to determine the
relationship between the numbers. This is shown in the following
example involving a single person.
If the age problem involves the ages of two or more people then
using a table would be a good idea. A table will help you to
organize the information and to write the equations.
Age Problems Involving A Single Person

Example 1:
Five years ago, Johns age was half of the age he will be in 8 years. How old
is he now?
Solution:
Step 1: Let x be Johns age now. Look at the question and put the relevant
expressions above it.
Step 2: Write out the equation.
Isolate variable x
2
Answer: John is now 18 years old.

Example 2:
Ten years from now, Orlando will be three times older than he is today.
What is his current age?
Solution: let x= current age
x + 10 = 3x
x- 3x = -10
-2x = -10
x=5
Example 3:
In 20 years, Kayleen will be four times older than she is today. What is her
current age?
Solution: let x= current age
x + 20 = 4x
x - 4x = -20
-3x = -20
x = 6 2/3
Age Problems Involving More Than One Person

Example 4:
John is twice as old as his friend Peter. Peter is 5 years older than Alice. In 5
years, John will be three times as old as Alice. How old is Peter now?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table.
age now
age in 5 yrs
John
Peter
Alice
Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.
John is twice as old as his friend Peter. Peter is 5 years older than Alice. In 5
years, John will be three times as old as Alice. How old is Peter now?
Let x be Peters age now. Add 5 to get the ages in 5 yrs.
age now
age in 5 yrs
John
2x
2x + 5
Peter
x+5
Alice
x5
x5+5
Write the new relationship in an equation using the ages in 5 yrs.

In 5 years, John will be three times as old as Alice.
4
2x + 5 = 3(x 5 + 5)
2x + 5 = 3x
Isolate variable x
x=5
Answer: Peter is now 5 years old.
Example 5:
Johns father is 5 times older than John and John is twice as old as his sister
Alice. In two years time, the sum of their ages will be 58. How old is John
now?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table.
age now
age in 2 yrs
Johns
father
John
Alice
Johns father is 5 times older than John and John is twice as old as his sister
Alice. In two years time, the sum of their ages will be 58. How old is John
now?
Let x be Johns age now. Add 2 to get the ages in 2 yrs.
Johns father
John
age now
age in 2 yrs
5x
x
5x + 2
x+2
Alice
Write the new relationship in an equation using the ages in 2 yrs.
5
In two years time, the sum of their ages will be 58.
Answer: John is now 8 years old.
There are two main types of average problems commonly

encountered
in
school
algebra:
Average
(Arithmetic
Mean and Average Speed.
Average (Arithmetic Mean)

The average (arithmetic mean) uses the formula:
The formula can also be written as
Example1 :
The average (arithmetic mean) of a list of 6 numbers is 20. If we remove one
of the numbers, the average of the remaining numbers is 15. What is the
number that was removed?
Solution:
Step 1: The removed number could be obtained by difference between the
sum of original 6 numbers and the sum of remaining 5 numbers i.e.
sum of original 6 numbers sum of remaining 5 numbers
Step 2: Using the formula
Sum of original 6 numbers = 20 6 = 120

sum of remaining 5 numbers = 15 5 = 75
Step 3: Using the formula from step 1
Number removed = sum of original 6 numbers sum of remaining 5
numbers
120 75 = 45
Answer: The number removed is 45.
Average Speed Problems

Examples of Average Speed Problems
Computation of average speed is a trickier type of average problems. Average speed uses the formula:
Example2:
John drove for 3 hours at a rate of 50 miles per hour and for 2 hours at 60
miles per hour. What was his average speed for the whole journey?
Solution:
Step 1: The formula for distance is
Distance = Rate Time
Total distance = 50 3 + 60 2 = 270
Step 2: Total time = 3 + 2 = 5
Step 3: Using the formula
Answer: The average speed is 54 miles per hour.

Be careful! You will get the wrong answer if you add the two speeds and
divide the answer by two.
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11
Digit word problems are problems that involve individual digits in

integers and howdigits are related according to the question.
Some problems would involve treating the digits as individual
numbers to be related. This would make it similar to an integer
problem, except that the integers are between 0 and 9, inclusive.
Example1:
The tens digit of a number is three times the ones digit. The sum of the
digits in the number is 8. What is the number?
Solution:
Step 1: Sentence: The tens digit of a number is three times the ones digit.
Assign variables:
Let
x =ones digit
3x =tens digit
Sentence: The sum of the digits in the number is 8.

x + 3x = 8
Step 2: Solve the equation
x + 3x = 8
Isolate variable x
4x = 8
x=2
The ones digit is 2. The tens digit is 3 2 = 6
Answer: The number is 62.
12
13
Distance Problems: Traveling In Different

Directions
Example1:
A bus and a car leave the same place and traveled in opposite directions. If
the bus is traveling at 50 mph and the car is traveling at 55 mph, in how
many hours will they be 210 miles apart?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a rtd table.
r
bus
car
If the bus is traveling at 50 mph and the car is traveling at 55mph, in how
many hours will they be 210 miles apart?
Let t = time when they are 210 miles apart.
r
bus
50
car
55
Step 3: Fill in the values for d using the formula d = rt

r
bus
50
50t
car
55
55t
14
Step 4: Since the total distance is 210, we get the equation:

50t + 55t = 210
105t = 210
Isolate variable t
Answer: They will be 210 miles apart in 2 hours.
Distance Problems: Given Total Time

Example2:
John took a drive to town at an average rate of 40 mph. In the evening, he
drove back at 30 mph. If he spent a total of 7 hours traveling, what is the
distance traveled by John?
Solution:
r
Case 1
Case 2
Let t = time to travel to town.
15
7 t = time to return from town.

r
Case 1
40
Case 2
30
7t

r
Case 1
40 t
40t
Case 2
30 7 t 30(7 t)
Step 4: Since the distances traveled in both cases are the same, we get the
equation:
40t = 30(7 t)
Use distributive property
40t = 210 30t
Isolate variable t
40t + 30t = 210
70t = 210
Step 5: The distance traveled by John to town is

40t = 120
16
The distance traveled by John to go back is also 120

So, the total distance traveled by John is 240
Answer: The distance traveled by John is 240 miles.
Wind and Current Word Problems

There is another group of distance-time problems that involves
the speed of the water current or the speed of wind affecting the
speed of the vehicle.
Example3:
Flying against a headwind, Abby Lee took 5.5 hours to fly 2750 km to Cebu
City. With no wind change in the wind, the return flight took 5 hours. What
is the wind speed and the speed of the plane?
Solution:
Let x= planes speed
y= wind speed
Step 1: Set up a rtd table
PLANE
With
x+y
5 (x+y)
Against
x-y
5.5
5.5 (x-y)
17
Step 2:
5 (x+y) = 2750
x + y = 550
5
5.5 (x-y) = 2750
x y = 500
5.5
Step 3: add the two equations to cancel out one variable.
(x + y = 550) + (x y = 500)
2x = 1050
x= 525
So, the Planes speed is 525km/h
And the wind is 25km/h
Example4:
Traveling downstream, Elmo can go 6 km in 45 minutes. On the return trip,
it takes him 1,5 hours. What is the boat's speed in still water and what is the
rate of the current?
Solution:
Let x= Boats speed
y= current
18
Step 1: Set up a rtd table

BOAT
With
x+y
3/4
3/4 (x+y)
Against
x-y
1.5
3/2 (x-y)
Step 2: FIND THE EQUATION
[ ( x+y) = 6] 4/3
x+y=8
[3/2 ( x+y) = 6] 2/3
xy=4
Step 3: add the two equations to cancel out one variable.
(x+y=8) + (x-y=4)
2x = 12
x=6
Step 4: SUBSTITUTE THE VALUE OF X IN THE EQUATION
x+y=8
6+y=8
y=2
So, the boats speed is 6km/hr and the water is 2km/hr.
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Distance Word Problems - Traveling at Different

Rates
Distance problems are word problems that involve the distance an
object will travel at a certain average rate for a given period
of time.
The formula for distance problems is: distance = rate time or d
= r t.
Things to watch out for:
Make sure that you change the units when necessary. For
example, if the rate is given in miles per hour and the time is
given in minutes then change the units appropriately.
It would be helpful to use a table to organize the information for
distance problems. A table helps you to think about one number
at a time instead being confused by the question.
Example5:
A bus traveling at an average rate of 50 kilometers per hour made the trip to
town in 6 hours. If it had traveled at 45 kilometers per hour, how many
more minutes would it have taken to make the trip?
Solution:
r
Case 1
Case 2
20
A bus traveling at an average rate of 50 kilometers per hour made the trip to
town in 6 hours. If it had traveled at 45 kilometers per hour, how many
more minutes would it have taken to make the trip?
Let t = time to make the trip in Case 2.
r
Case 1
50
Case 2
45

r
Case 1
50
50 6 = 300
Case 2
45
45t
equation:
45t = 300
Isolate variable t
Step 5: Beware - the question asked for how many more minutes would it
have taken to make the trip, so we need to deduct the original 6 hours
taken.
Answer: The time taken would have been 40 minutes longer.

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Distance Word Problems - Given the Total Time

Distance problems are word problems that involve the distance an
object willtravel at a certain average rate for a given period
of time.
The formula for distance problems is: distance = rate time or d
= r t.
Things to watch out for:
Make sure that you change the units when necessary. For
example, if the rate is given in miles per hour and the time is
given in minutes then change the units appropriately.
It would be helpful to use a table to organize the information for
distance problems. A table helps you to think about one number
at a time instead being confused by the question.
Example6 :
Solution:
r
Case 1
Case 2

22

Let t = time to travel to town.
7 t = time to return from town.
r
t
d
Case 1 40
t
Case 2 30
7t
r
Case 1
40
40t
Case 2
30
7t
30(7 t)
equation:
40t = 30(7 t)
Use distributive property
40t = 210 30t
Isolate variable t
40t + 30t = 210
70t = 210
Step 5: The distance traveled by John to town is

40t = 120
23
The distance traveled by John to go back is also 120

So, the total distance traveled by John is 240
Answer: The distance traveled by John is 240 miles.
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25
Mixture problems are word problems where items or quantities of

different values are mixed together.
Adding to the Solution

Example 1:
John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution, How much salt should he add
to make it a 25% solution?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table for salt.
original
added
result
concentration
amount

John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution. How much salt should he add
to make it a 25% solution?
The salt added is 100% salt, which is 1 in decimal.
Change all the percent to decimals
Let x = amount of salt added. The result would be 20 + x.
original
added
result
concentration
0.2
0.25
amount
20
20 + x
26
Step 3: Multiply down each column.

original
added
result
concentration
0.2
0.25
Amount
20
20 + x
Multiply
0.2 20
1x
0.25(20 + x)
Step 4: original + added = result

0.2 20 + 1 x = 0.25(20 + x)
4 + x = 5 + 0.25x
Isolate variable x
x 0.25x = 5 4
0.75x = 1
Answer: He should add
ounces of salt
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Removing From the Solution

Example 2:
John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution. How much water should he
evaporate to make it a 30% solution?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table for water. The water is removed from the original.
original
removed
Result
concentration
Amount

John has 20 ounces of a 20% of salt solution. How much water should he
evaporate to make it a 30% solution?
The original concentration of water is 100% 20% = 80%
The resulted concentration of water is 100% 30% = 70%
The water evaporated is 100% water, which is 1 in decimal.
Change all the percent to decimals.
Let x = amount of water evaporated. The result would be 20 x.
original
removed result
concentration
0.8
0.7
amount
20
20 x
28

original
removed
result
concentration
0.8
0.7
amount
20
20 x
multiply
0.8 20
1x
0.70(20 x)
Step 4: Since the water is removed, we need to subtract

original removed = result
0.8 20 1 x = 0.70(20 x)
16 x = 14 0.7x
Isolate variable x
x 0.7x = 16 14
0.3x = 2
Answer: He should evaporate 6.67 ounces of water
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Replacing the Solution

Example 3:
A tank has a capacity of 10 gallons. When it is full, it contains 15% alcohol.
How many gallons must be replaced by an 80% alcohol solution to give 10
gallons of 70% solution?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table for alcohol. The alcohol is replaced i.e. removed and
added.
original removed added result
concentration
amount

A tank has a capacity of 10 gallons. When it is full, it contains 15% alcohol.
How many gallons must be replaced by an 80% alcohol solution to
give 10 gallons of 70% solution?
Change all the percent to decimals.
Let x = amount of alcohol solution replaced.
original
removed
added
result
concentration
0.15
0.15
0.8
0.7
amount
10
10
30

original removed added
result
concentration 0.15
0.15
0.8
0.7
amount
10
10
multiply
0.15 10
0.15 x
0.8 x
0.7 10
Step 4: Since the alcohol solution is replaced, we need to subtract and add.
original removed + added = result
0.15 10 0.15 x + 0.8 x = 0.7 10
1.5 0.15x + 0.8x = 7
Isolate variable x
0.8x 0.15x = 7 1.5
0.65x = 5.5
Answer: 8.46 gallons of alcohol solution needs to be replaced.
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Mixing Quantities Of Different Costs

Example 4:
How many pounds of chocolate worth $1.20 a pound must be mixed with
10 pounds of chocolate worth 90 cents a pound to produce a mixture worth
$1.00 a pound?
Solution:
Step 1: Set up a table for different types of chocolate.
original
added
result
cost
amount
How many pounds of chocolate worth $1.20 a pound must be mixed
with 10 pounds of chocolate worth 90 cents a pound to produce a mixture
worth $1.00 a pound?
Let x = amount of chocolate added.
original
added
result
cost
0.9
1.2
amount
10
x + 10
original
added
result
cost
0.9
1.2
amount
10
x + 10
multiply
0.9 10
1.2 x
1 (x + 10)
32
Step 4: original + added = result

0.9 10 + 1.2 x = 1 (x + 10)
9 + 1.2x = x + 10
Isolate variable x
1.2x x = 10 - 9
0.2x = 1
Answer: 5 pounds of the $1.20 chocolate needs to be added.
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First, we will look at a money word problem involving calculating

Simple Interest. Simple Interest word problems are based on the
formula for Simple Interest and the formula for Amount. Then,
we will look at a money word problem that involves coins and
dollar bills.
Formula for Simple Interest
i = prt
i represents the interest earned
p represents the principal which is the number of dollars invested
t represents the time the money is invested which is generally stated in
years or fractions of a year.
Formula for Amount
A=p+i
A represents what your investment is worth if you consider the total
amount of the original investment (p) and the interest earned (i)
Example1:
James needs interest income of $5,000. How much money must he invest
for one year at 7%? (Give your answer to the nearest dollar)
Solution:
5,000 = p(0.07)1
p = 71,428.57
He must invest $71,429
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36
In this chapter, we will learn how to solve algebra word

problems that involve motion.
Motion (Distance) Formula
Motion problems are based on the formula
d = rt
where d = distance, r = rate and t = time.
When solving motion problems, a sketch is often helpful and a
table can be used for organizing the information.
Example1:
John and Philip who live 14 miles apart start at noon to walk toward each
other at rates of 3 mph and 4 mph respectively. In how many hours will
they meet?
Solution:
Let x = time walked.
r
John
3x
Philip
4x
3x + 4x = 14
7x = 14
x=2
They will meet in 2 hours.
37
Example2:
In still water, Peters boat goes 4 times as fast as the current in the river.
He takes a 15-mile trip up the river and returns in 4 hours. Find the rate of
the current.
Solution:
Let x = rate of the current.
r
down river
4x + x
15 / 5x
15
up river
4x - x
15 / 3x
15
ANSWER: The rate of the current is 2 mph.
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39
Number Sequence Problems are word problems that involves a

number sequence. Sometimes you may be asked to obtain the
value of a particular term of the sequence or you may be asked
to determine the pattern of a sequence.
Number Sequence Problems: Value Of A

Particular Term
The question will describe how the sequence of numbers is
generated. After a certain number of terms, the sequence will
repeat through the same numbers again. Try to follow the
description and write down the sequence of numbers until you
can determine how many terms before the numbers repeat.
That information can then be used to determine what a
particular term would be.
For example,
If we have a sequence of numbers:
x, y, z, x, y, z, ....
that repeats after the third term.
If we want to find out what is the fifth term then we get the remainder of 5
3, which is 2.
The fifth term is then the same as the second term, which is y.
Example1:
The first term in a sequence of number is 2. Each even-numbered term is
3 more than the previous term and each odd-numbered term, excluding
the first, is 1 times the previous term. What is the 45th term of the
sequence?
40
Solution:
Step 1: Write down the terms until you notice a repetition
2, 5, -5, - 2, 2, 5, -5, -2, ...
The sequence repeats after the fourth term.
Step 2: To find the 45th term, get the remainder for 45 4, which is 1
Step 3: The 45th term is the same as the 1st term, which is 2
Answer: The 45th term is 2.
Number Sequence Problems: Determine The

Pattern Of A Sequence
Example2:
6, 13, 27, 55,
In the sequence above, each term after the first is determined by
multiplying the preceding term by m and then adding n. What is the value
of n?
Solution:
Method 1:
The fastest way to solve this would be if you notice that the pattern:
6 2 + 1 = 13
13 2 + 1 =27
Answer: The value of n is 1.
41
Method 2:
If you were not able to see the pattern then you can come with two
equations and then solve for n.
6m + n =13
13m + n = 27
(equation 1)
(equation 2)
Use substitution method

Isolate n in equation 1
n = 13 6m
Substitute into equation 2
13m + 13 6m = 27
7m = 14
m=2
Substitute m = 2 into equation 1
6(2) + n = 13
n=1
Answer:
n=1
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Proportion problems are word problems where the items in the

question are proportional to each other. In this chapter, we will
learn the two main types of proportional problems: Directly
Proportional Problems and Inversely Proportional Problems.
Directly Proportional Problems

The question usually will not tell you that the items are directly
proportional. Instead, it will give you the value of two items
which are related and then asks you to figure out what will be
the value of one of the item if the value of the other item
changes.
Proportion problems are usually of the form:
If x then y. If x is changed to a then what will be the value of y?
For example,
If two pencils cost $1.50, how many pencils can you buy with $9.00?
The main difficulty with this type of question is to figure out which values
to divide and which values to multiply.
The following method is helpful:
Change the word problem into the form:
which can then be represented as:
44
For example,
You can think of the sentence:
If two pencils cost $1.50, how many pencils can you buy with $9.00?
as
If $1.50 then two pencils. If $9.00 then how many pencils?
Write the proportional relationship:
Example 1:
Jane ran 100 meters in 15 seconds. How long did she take to run 1 meter?
Step 1: Think of the word problem as:
If 100 then 15. If 1 then how many?
Step 2: Write the proportional relationship:
Answer: She took 0.15 seconds

Example 2:
If of a tank can be filled in 2 minutes, how many minutes will it take to
fill the whole tank?
45
If
then 2. If 1 then how many? (Whole tank is
Answer: It took 3.5 minutes

Example 3:
A car travels 125 miles in 3 hours. How far would it travel in 5 hours?
Answer: He traveled
miles.
Inversely Proportional Problems

Inversely Proportional questions are similar to directly
proportional
problems,
but
the
difference
is
that
when x increase y will decrease and vice versa - which is
the inverse proportion relationship. The most common example
of inverse proportion problems would be the more men on a
job the less time taken for the job to complete
Again, the technique is to change the proportion problems into
the form:
46

and then write the inverse relationship (take note of the
"inverse" form):
Example4:
It takes 4 men 6 hours to repair a road. How long will it take 7 men to do
the job if they work at the same rate?
Step 2: Write out the inverse relationship:
Answer: They will take
hours.
47
Ratio Word Problems

Ratio problems are word problems that use ratios to relate the
different items in the question.
The main things to be aware about for ratio problems area:
Change the quantities to the same unit if necessary.
Write the items in the ratio as a fraction.
Make sure that you have the same items in the numerator
and denominator.
Ratio problems: Two-term Ratios

Example 1:
In a bag of red and green sweets, the ratio of red sweets to
green sweets is 3:4. If the bag contains 120 green sweets, how
many red sweets are there?
Solution:
Step 1: Assign variables :
Let x = red sweets
Write the items in the ratio as a fraction.

Cross Multiply
3 120 = 4 x
360 = 4x
48
Isolate variable x
Answer: There are 90 red sweets.
Example 2:
John has 30 marbles, 18 of which are red and 12 of which are
blue. Jane has 20 marbles, all of them either red or blue. If the
ratio of the red marbles to the blue marbles is the same for both
John and Jane, then John has how many more blue marbles
than Jane?
Solution:
Step 1: Sentence: Jane has 20 marbles, all of them either red or
blue.
Assign variables:
Let x = blue marbles for Jane
20 x = red marbles for Jane
We get the ratio from John
John has 30 marbles, 18 of which are red and 12 of which are
blue.
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Direct Variation
There are many situations in our daily lives that involve direct
variation.
For example, a worker may be paid according to the number of
hours he worked. The two quantities x (the number of hours
worked) and y (the amount paid) are related in such a way that
when x changes, y changes proportionately such that the
ratio remains a constant.
We say that y varies directly with x. Let us represent the
constant by k, i.e.
or y = kx where k 0
If y varies directly as x, this relation is written as y
as y varies as x. The sign
the sign of variation.
x and read
is read varies as and is called
Example3:
If y varies directly as x and given y = 9 when x = 5, find:
the equation connecting x and y
the value of y when x = 15
the value of x when y = 6
Solution:
a) y
x i.e. y = kx where k is a constant
Substitute x = 5 and y = 9 into the equation:
50
y=
b) Substitute x = 15 into the equation
y=
= 27
c) Substitute y = 6 into the equation
Example4:
The cost of a taxi fare (C) varies directly as the distance (D) travelled.
When the distance is 60 km, the cost is $35. Find the cost when the
distance is 95 km.
Solution:
i.e. C = kD, where k is a constant.
Substitute C = 35 and D = 60 into the equation
35 = 60k k =
Therefore, C =
Substitute D = 95 into the equation:

C=
Answer :
55.42
The cost for 95 km is $55.42

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Joint and Combined Variation Word Problems
Joint variation is a variation where a quantity varies directly as

the product of two or more other quantities. For example, the
area of a rectangle varies whenever its length or its width
varies. We say that
and w is the width.
, where A is the area, l is the length
Combined variation is a variation where a quantity depends on

two (or more) other quantities, and varies directly with some of
them and varies inversely with others.
Example 5: A quantity varies inversely as two or more other quantities.
The figure below shows a rectangular solid with a fixed volume. Express
its width, w, as a joint variation in terms of its length, l, and height, h.
Solution:
Answer: In other words, the longer the length l or the height h, the
narrower is the width w.
Example 6: A quantity varies directly as one quantity and inversely as
another.
The speed, s, of a moving object varies directly as the distance travelled, d,
and varies inversely as the time taken, t. Express s as a joint variation in
terms of d and t.
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Solution:
Answer: In other words, the longer the distance or the shorter the time,
the faster is the speed.
Inverse Variation Word Problems

In general, when two variables x and y are such that
xy = k where k is a non-zero constant, we say that y varies
inversely with x.
In notation, inverse variation is written as
Example7:
Suppose that y varies inversely as x and that y = 8 when x = 3.
a) Form an equation connecting x and y.
b) Calculate the value of y when x = 10.
Solution:
i.e. xy = k where k is a non-zero constant

a) Substitute x = 3 and y = 8 into the equation to obtain k
3 8 = k k = 24
The equation is xy = 24
b) When x = 10, 10 y = 24 y =
53
Example:
Suppose that y varies inversely as x 2 and that y = 10 when x =
a) Find the equation connecting x and y .

b) Find the value of y when x = 3.
Solution:
i.e. yx2 = k
a) Substitute x =
and y = 10 into the equation to obtain k
The equation is yx2 =

b) When x = 3,
54
55
"Work" Problems: Two Persons

The formula for Work Problems that involve two persons is
This formula can be extended for more than two persons. It can
also be used in problems that involve pipes filling up a tank.
Example 1:
Peter can mow the lawn in 40 minutes and John can mow the lawn in 60
minutes. How long will it take for them to mow the lawn together?
Solution:
Step 1: Assign variables:
Let x = time to mow lawn together
Step 2: Use the formula:

The LCM of 40 and 60 is 120
Multiply both sides with 120
56
Answer: The time taken for both of them to mow the lawn together is 24
minutes.
Work Problems: More than Two Persons

Example 1:
Jane, Paul and Peter can finish painting the fence in 2 hours. If Jane does
the job alone she can finish it in 5 hours. If Paul does the job alone he can
finish it in 6 hours. How long will it take for Peter to finish the job alone?
Solution:
Let x = time taken by Peter

Multiply both sides with 30x
57
Answer: The time taken for Peter to paint the fence alone is
hours.
Work Problems: Pipes Filling up a Tank

Example 1:
A tank can be filled by pipe A in 3 hours and by pipe B in 5 hours. When the
tank is full, it can be drained by pipe C in 4 hours. if the tank is initially
empty and all three pipes are open, how many hours will it take to fill up the
tank?
Solution:
Let x = time taken to fill up the tank
Since pipe C drains the water it is subtracted.
58

The LCM of 3, 4 and 5 is 60
Multiply both sides with 60
Answer: The time taken to fill the tank is
hours.
59
60

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BICOL UNIVERSITY

In partial fulfillment of the requirements to be

NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

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Age Problems Involving A Single Person

Step 2: Write out the equation.

NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

Answer: John is now 18 years old.

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Age Problems Involving More Than One Person

Write the new relationship in an equation using the ages in 5 yrs.

NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

In two years time, the sum of their ages will be 58.

Answer: John is now 8 years old.

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NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

There are two main types of average problems commonly

Average (Arithmetic Mean)

The formula can also be written as

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Sum of original 6 numbers = 20 6 = 120

Average Speed Problems

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Answer: The average speed is 54 miles per hour.

NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

Digit word problems are problems that involve individual digits in

Sentence: The sum of the digits in the number is 8.

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NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

Distance Problems: Traveling In Different

Step 3: Fill in the values for d using the formula d = rt

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Step 4: Since the total distance is 210, we get the equation:

Answer: They will be 210 miles apart in 2 hours.

Distance Problems: Given Total Time

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7 t = time to return from town.

Step 3: Fill in the values for d using the formula d = rt

Step 5: The distance traveled by John to town is

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The distance traveled by John to go back is also 120

Wind and Current Word Problems

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NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

Step 1: Set up a rtd table

Step 2: FIND THE EQUATION

[3/2 ( x+y) = 6] 2/3

Step 3: add the two equations to cancel out one variable.

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Distance Word Problems - Traveling at Different

Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.

NEXT CENTURY MATHEMATICS BY FERNANDO ORINES 2014

Step 3: Fill in the values for d using the formula d = rt

Answer: The time taken would have been 40 minutes longer.

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Distance Word Problems - Given the Total Time

Step 2: Fill in the table with information given in the question.

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John took a drive to town at an average rate of 40 mph. In the evening, he

Step 5: The distance traveled by John to town is

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The distance traveled by John to go back is also 120