WORD PROBLEM EQUATIONS

1. Mixture Problems

New Mixture
% Mixture 1 % Mixture 2
3
+/- =
G Mixture 1
G Mixture 1 G Mixture 2
+2
*+/- depends on the problem (added = +, evaporated = -)

Equation : (% Mixture 1)(G Mixture 1) + (% Mixture 2)(G Mixture 2) = (New Mixture

3)(G Mixture 1 + 2)

2. Investment Problems

I= interest on the original investment

P= principal/amount of the original investment
R= interest rate
T= time

Equation: PRT = I

3. Distance/Motion Problems

D= distance
R= rate
T= time

Equation: D = RT

 When two will meet, sum of distances = length of total distance to

be travelled.
 When one tries to overtake another, distances travelled should be
equal. (person with faster rate will have lesser time)
 When one tries to overtake someone who started at a different
location, distance between two locations should be subtracted from
the longer distance before equating. (faster rate = longer distance)
 Wind or current: Let current be x and include it in the rate.
-downstream: with
-upstream: against

4. Work Problems

W= Work
R= Rate
T= Time

1/x = rate of doing work

x= number of time units required to complete a job