Section 3

Section 3.3
Solving Word
Problems:
Comparisons

Copyright © 2013, 2010, 2006, 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.

Example
In a basketball game, the Vikings scored 12 points more than the Mustangs. A total of 78 points were scored.
How many points were scored by each team?
1. Understand the problem.
Let m = the number of points scored by the Mustangs.
Let m + 12 = the number of points scored by the
Vikings.
2. Write an equation. m + m + 12 = 78
Copyright © 2013, 2010, 2006, 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.

Example (cont)
In a basketball game, the Vikings scored 12 points more than the Mustangs. A total of 78 points were scored.
How many points were scored by each team?
3. Solve and state the answer. m + m + 12 = 78
2m + 12 = 78
2m = 66 m = 33
The Mustangs scored 33 points.
The Vikings scored 33 + 12 = 45 points.
The check is left to the student.
Copyright © 2013, 2010, 2006, 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.

Example
A small plot of land is in the shape of a rectangle. The length is 7 meters longer than the width. The perimeter of the rectangle is 86 meters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle. 1. Understand the problem.
Let w = the width
Let w + 7 = the length
2. Write an equation. w + w + 7 + w + w + 7 = 86

Copyright © 2013, 2010, 2006, 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.

Example (cont)
A small plot of land is in the shape of a rectangle. The length is 7 meters longer than the width. The perimeter of the rectangle is 86 meters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle. 3. Solve and state the answer. w + w + 7 + w + w + 7 = 86
4w + 14 = 86
4w = 72 w = 18
The width is 18 meters.
The length is w = 7 = 18 + 7 = 25 meters
Copyright © 2013, 2010, 2006, 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.

More examples
Three siblings—David, Kate, and Sarah—spent 100 hours helping Habitat for Humanity build new housing.
Sarah worked 15 hours more than Dave. Kate worked 5 hours fewer than Dave. How many hours did each of these siblings volunteer?

Copyright © 2013, 2010, 2006, 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.