Rachel can make 3 bracelets in an hour. Oliver can make only 2 bracelets in an hour, but he already has completed 5 bracelets. Explain to Rachel how she can use a system of equations to determine when she will have the same number of bracelets as oliver.

Question

anonymous · Answer

I'm extremly bad at setting up systems of equations. Please help. :(

aaronq · Answer

So you have two rates, 

rachel's rate = 3x  (x is the number of hours passed)
oliver's rate = 2x 

but oliver already started with 5

so  rachel's rate = oliver's rate +5

$\sf 3x = 2x + 5$

hero · Answer

That's not a system of equations. For a system of equations, you need at least 2 equations in two variables. The correct setup would be something like

y = 3x
y = 2x + 5

as the initial setup.

anonymous · Answer

@Hero That's what i thought.  I was a bit confused as to why there was only one equation.  But thanks

hero · Answer

You're welcome.

aaronq · Answer

whoops