Question

Alan weighs 3 pounds more than twice what Dylan weighs. Write an expression to represent Alan’s weight in terms of Dylan’s weight. 15px

Answer 1

So basically here you're just translating the sentence into the math that it's talking about.

Let's start by labelling Alan's weight as variable y and Dylan's weight as variable x.

Alan weighs translates to basically
\[y =\]

Answer 2

Do you have an idea of where we would go from there?

Answer 3

its hard but are we trying to find X

Answer 4

Well in this case the topic of the sentence is Alan's weight, which we labeled y.

Answer 5

But we aren't actually trying to find y or x, we're just trying to translate what the sentence is saying, into math.

So when it says "Alan weighs three pounds more" what do you think that would mean in math?

Answer 6

Here's an example.

The cat weighs four less pounds than the dog. Let y be the cat's weight and x be the dog's weight.

y = x - 4

Answer 7

you would need to make an equation

Answer 8

Yes, we're in the process of creating that equation. So how would you mathematically represent: "Alan weighs three pounds more"

Answer 9

If you are confused, try reading my example

Answer 10

so dylan weighs 6 pounds

Answer 11

so i mixed them up

Answer 12

alan weighs 6 pounds

Answer 13

Technically we're not trying to find Dylan's weight, we're just trying to create the equation that represents their weights.

Answer 14

oh i got it

Answer 15

2x+3=Alan's Weight

Answer 16

cause 2 times aka 2x times 3 is 6

Answer 17

Yeah. If X is dylan's weight then 'two times Dylan's weight' is 2x.

Then three pounds more than 'two times Dylan's weight' is 2x + 3

Answer 18

I see how you're getting 6 but that actually isn't necessary nor correct. You can't compute 2x + 3 without knowing what x is.

Answer 19

oh i see

Answer 20

For example if x were 1, you could do 2(1) + 3 = 2 + 3 = 5

Answer 21

If x were 2 you could do 2(2) + 3 = 4 + 3 = 7

Answer 22

oh

Answer 23

i thought it was like an exponent

Answer 24

Yeah so the final equation would look like\[y = 2x + 3\]

Answer 25

Where,
y = Alan's weight
x = Dylan's weight

Answer 26

i didn't understand