Lneal

Ok, I see now. There are some steps here that my brain wasn't comprehending, but now I am getting it. Thanks soooo much :D
This should help me to be able to correct the rest of my problems.

Lisanne

MQ, when Lneal first mentioned jumping the shark and gave a sample problem, I did it with the steps. But when she posted about what it meant, I interpreted that as meaning a quicker way - the way I usually solve these. When I do these problems, I don't go through all the steps you do. I just move the numbers over and change signs and reciprocities as needed. I was trying to show how I normally do it.

You're right, showing all the steps can be clearer, but IMO it's very tedious, so I wanted to show the quicker way.

Karla has given a fine explanation of the latest problem, but showing how I'd do it...

5y + 13 = 2y - 2
3y = - 15 (gets like terms on the same side of the equal sign)
y = -5 (simplifying)

-2(x - 5) + 4 = 4(2x-4)
-2x + 10 + 4 = 8x - 16 (getting rid of parentheses)
-2x + 14 = 8x - 16 (adding the like terms on the left)
30 = 10x (getting like terms on the same side of the equal sign)
3 = x (simplifying)

Bailey's mom

I went back to school and graduated in 2002. Hard yes. But the funniest thing that I found was that all of the young people in class wated to sit by you on the first day..they thought that if you were older than you knew everything!!!fooled them!!!
Have fun and it is so awesome that you are doing this...I must say that graduating with a degree in front of my own kids was an awesome thing to share with them!!!
u go girl!!!!

Harmony

The first time I took algebra as an 8th grader, I totally bombed it! Then I took it in summer school and had a crush on the teacher, and got an A! But if you asked me any algebra questions today, I couldn't give you an intelligent answer. My advice--find a hottie teacher!

minnow895

wether or not anyone thinks of it as algaba or not as quilters we use it on ever quilt a-the quilt i want to make b=the number of squers i am going to make c the amount of material i will nee for the borders d=material need for backing and batting equals e the cost and full amount of material needed
hope this makes it easy a+b+c+d=e

IrishNY

I teach algebra and geometry to students preparing to take the exam to enter business school, so I will be happy to help. If you get in a bind, PM me so I make sure to answer.

But Barnbum seems to be doing just fine in explaining the solutions to you. You 're going to get through this - really.

Lneal

I finished my pre algebra class last December with a B. I am now starting Business Math 110 and I am so frustrated with my abilities to understand applications of equations or word problems.
I would appreciate any help that I could get on explaining how to get the answer to this problem.

* The number of cars going north-south was 3/4 of those going east-west, and the total number of cars was 1400. Find the number of cars going north-south and east-west.



I am trying to set this up as an equation to solve and I am lost. Can anyone help explain it? Are there any suggestions for web sites that help explain how to set up word problems?

Prism99

It helps to write it out in words before trying to form the equation.

X = # cars going east-west (this is the unknown)
3/4 X = # cars going north-south
1400= total number of cars

Total number of cars = # going east-west + # going north-south

1400 = X + 3/4 X

X + 3/4 X = 1400

This is how you can set up the equation. Let me know if you need help solving the equation.

Lneal

Thank you and I don't know why that seemed so difficult to me. When it comes to word problems it's like my mind wants to freeze up on me. I will try to solve it.

nativetexan

luckily i never took it!