Translate the following situation into an equation. Do not solve.

“Cheryl’s commute to work each morning is 4.5 miles farther than Joanna’s commute. Matthew’s commute to work is twenty one miles less than five times Joanna’s commute. If their average commute is 13 miles, how far is Joanna’s commute?”

Question

Translate the following situation into an equation. Do not solve.

“Cheryl’s commute to work each morning is 4.5 miles farther than Joanna’s commute. Matthew’s commute to work is twenty one miles less than five times Joanna’s commute. If their average commute is 13 miles, how far is Joanna’s commute?”

radar · Answer

Let x =Joanna's commute
then x+4.5 = Cheryl's commute
then 5x-21 = Mathews commute
$$x+x+4.5+5x-21\over 3$$ Would be the average so make that = 13 and solve for x getting joanna's commute which is around 8 miles.

anonymous · Answer

Most excellent!Thank you!