Question

Use the five steps for problem solving to answer the following question. Please show all of your work.
The sum of the length and girth of a rectangular box must be smaller than 96 inches. If the girth is one half the length, what is the length?
This is what I got. Is it right??

Length + girth = 96inches
girth = 1/2 length (therefore, length = 2 girth)
length + girth = 2 girth + 1 girth = 3 girth = 96 inches
3 girth = 96 inches => girth = 32 inches
length = 2 girth = 64 inches

Answer 1

That looks like the right answer if you ignore the fact that it says it must be *smaller* than 96 inches :)

Where x and y = length and girth respectively:
x + y < 96
y = (1/2)x
x + (1/2)x < 96
(3/2)x < 96
x < 64

Answer 2

How about this
let L = length; g=girth then
L+g<96
now we are given that g=L/2, so substitute
L+.5L<96
1.5L<96
L<64

Answer 3

Technically, I see more than one answer here. Since you know the length must be < 96, you could go with the length being 32 and the girth being 16...which answers the original question.

Answer 4

You could pretty must put any to values in there where one value is 2x the other and as long as the sum is < 96, it would be correct.

My guess is that the teacher probably wants you to show the steps that led to you knowing that the x must be < 64

Answer 5

yes he does..
and thanks so much for your help

Answer 6

That should have read: "You could pretty much put any two.." :) Np!