Rates and work problems translation to algebra

Question

Hello

I am unable to translate rate word problems into algebra, I always match the expression to other person. eg If heather started her joruney 24 minutes after stacey,

I assign automatically that Heather is 24+X and Stacey is X. I get my answers wrong most of the time because of this. I cannot get it. I cannot even memorize those expressions, for instance,

If sue and Tara left their original location at the same time, and sun arrived at her destination one hour before Tara arrived at hers I would interpret it as

Tara= T
Sue= T-1

I got it right this time, but most of the other times, I get it wrong.

Please simple explanation. Much appreciated.

olwan · Answer

Hello

I am unable to translate rate word problems into algebra, I always match the expression to other person. eg If heather started her joruney 24 minutes after stacey,

I assign automatically that Heather is 24+X and Stacey is X. I get my answers wrong most of the time because of this. I cannot get it. I cannot even memorize those expressions, for instance,

If sue and Tara left their original location at the same time, and sun arrived at her destination one hour before Tara arrived at hers I would interpret it as

Tara= T
Sue= T-1

I got it right this time, but most of the other times, I get it wrong.

Please simple explanation. Much appreciated.

GyanOne · Answer

Olwan, Have a look at the following link: word-problems-made-easy-87346.html

olwan · Answer

Yup I read it earlier. Do you think it is enough?

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keiraria · Answer

hello olwan"
Distance problems were my worst enemies up the time I realize how simple they are , 
so far it is the basic application of a formula D = rt

the only way to make it look difficult is to define one of the variable here the time of one in fonction of the time of the other

let s say you assumed that Tara left first and one hours after Sue left
hence if you Tara as begining point 
Time of Tara BE T
and hence Sue will be T-1 recognizing has sue has been out one hours after

now if you take Sue as reference sue time of departure be T 
and to recognize that Tara did one hours before T+1

Regarding the 24 min after you have to match the unit
if You define stacey Time in term of hours heather left 24MIN hence it will be 24/60 to recognize the time in minute compared to the time in hours

Hope this help you ?

best regards

keira

ps kudos are welcomed if you find this helpful

kashishh · Answer

Olwan i use to do the same mistake till i was told by an expert to realise -

1.) who is earlier ( -1) / who is late (+1) to the variable of time , u took 'T'
 sue is earlier so T-1
2.) very obvious that the one who is earlier will have More speed/rate
 when u assign value , assign + to who took less time and - to who took more time
3.) check - the one with less time has more speed and vice versa or not..

4.) the greatest thing is u know ur mistake... so now just be careful

geno5 · Answer

One way to that I think about these type of situations. Is like how many hours have you travelled. e.g. Sue has arrived one hour before Tara therefore she would have travelled one hour less than Tara travelled. = T-1 If Tara travelled 7 hours Sue would only have travelled 6.

Your other example: Stacey leaves at 12pm or X and then Stacey leaves 12:24pm or x+24 Minutes later, try and remember that that person usually travels more time than the other.

Hope this helps and is somewhat clear!

Bunuel · Answer

These topics might help: word-problems-made-easy-87346.html distance-speed-time-word-problems-made-easy-87481.html work-word-problems-made-easy-87357.html

olwan · Answer

Very helpful guys. Thank you all

Rates and work problems translation to algebra

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