Sarah drove 3 hours more than Michael on their trip to Texas

Sarah drove 3 hours more than Michael on their trip to Texas. If the trip took 37 hours, how long did Sarah and Michael each drive?

Can you please translate the word problem into an algebraic expression using x as the unknown.Then solve for x.

Solution

Solution witout Algebra:

If the extra 3 hours are separated from 37 hours of the trip, we get34 hours which is driven equally by Sarah and Michael. So, 34/2=17 hours are equally driven by both out of 34 hours. Now add Sarah\'s part of extra 3 hours. So, Sarah drove 17+3 =20 Hours, and Michel drove 17 hours.

Method of Agebra:

The driving hours by Sarah is known in terms of driving of Michale plus 3 hours.. So, the unknown hours of driving of Michale is assumed to be x hrs which is the basic unknown to solve in this word problem. Then Sarah\'s duration of driving is x+3 hours. So, their total hours of driving (algebaically)=x+x+3=2x+3 hours. Butsthis is equal to 37 hours. The basic requirement of the word problem is to set up an equation. So,the equation of this word problem is:

2x+3=37

where x is the basic unknown hours of Michale\'s driving hours. Once you solve for x, you get x+3 as duration in hours of Sarah\'s driving.

Solving the equation:

2x+3=37

Subtract 3 from both sides:

2x+3-3=37-3

2x=34

Divide both sides by 2

2x/2=34/2

x=17 hours, is the duration of Michel\'s drive and

x+3=17+3=20 hours is that of Sarah\'s.