Linear Equations Homework:

Ian McFarland
1/ In a clearance bin everything has been reduced by 75%. One item is listed in the bin for
$32.40. How much was the price of the item before it was put into the clearance bin?
Let p be the price of the item
P – 0.75p = 32.40
P(1-0.75) = 32.40
P(0.25) = 32.40
P= 32.40 / 0.25 = 129.60
The original price of the item was $129.60

2/ A piece of electronics has been marked up by 20% and is selling for $21.50. How much did
the store pay for the item?
Let p be the price of the electronic
p + 0.20p = 21.50
p(1+0.20) = 21.50
p(1.2) = 21.50
p = 21.50 / 1.2 =17.92
The store payed $17.92 for the electronic.

3/ A widget is on sale for $715.80 and has been marked down by 11%. What was the original
price of the widget?
Let p be the price of the widget
p – 0.11 = 715.80
p(1-0.11) = 715.80
p(0.89) = 715.80
p = 715.80 / 0.89
p = 804.27
The original price of the widget was $804.27

4/Two cars start at the same point and move in the same direction. One car travels 5mph faster
than twice the speed of the other car. After 10 hours the distance separating the two cars is 60
miles. What was the speed of each car?
Let s be the speed of each car.
Car a = 2s + 5
Car b= s

60 + distance of car b = distance of car a

60 + (rate of car b)(time of car b) = (rate of car a)(time of car a)
60 + s x 10 = (2s + 5)(10)
60 +10s = 20s + 50
10 = 10s
S = 10/10 = 1

Car a = 6mph
Car b = 1mph

5/ Two people start out 100 meters apart from each other and start moving towards each other
at the same time. One person is moving at half the speed of the other person and they meet
after 25 seconds of travel time. What was the speed of each person?
Let s be the speed of each person.

Distance of person a + distance of person b = 100

(speed of person a)(time of person a) + (speed of person b)(time of person b) = 100
(s/2)25 + s(25) = 100
25s/2 + 25s = 100
75s / 2 = 100
75s = 200
S = 200/75
S =2.667
Person a = 1.333 m/s
Person b = 2.666 m/s

6/ Two boats start at the same point. One boat starts traveling to the east at 45 mph and two
hours later the second boat starts traveling to the east at 60 mph. At some point in time the
faster boat will be 145miles in front of the slower boat. How long has each boat been traveling
when this happens?

Let t be the time traveling

145 + distance of boat a = distance of boat b

145 + (rate of boat a)(time of boat a) = (rate of boat b)(time of boat b)
145 + 45t = 60 x t + 2
145- 2 = 60t – 45t + 2
143 = 15t + 2
T = 145/15 + 2
T = 9.667 + 2
T = 11.667

Each boat has been traveling 11.667 hours when the faster boat is 145 miles in front of the
slower boat.

7/ One machine can complete a production run at a factory in 46 hours. Two machines can
complete the production run in 25 hours if they work together. How long would it take the
second machine to complete one production run if it had to the job by itself?
Let r be the workrate
Portion of job done by machine a + portion of job done by machine b = 1 job
(workrate of machine a)(time spent) + (workrate of machine b)(time spend) = 1 job
(1/46)(25) + (1/r)(25) = 1
(25r + 46 x 25) / 46r = 1
25r + 1150 = 46r
46r – 25r = 1150
21r = 1150
R = 1150 / 21
R = 54.76
It would take the second machine 54.76 hours to complete one job.

8/ One person can move a field in 52 minute and a second can mow the same field in 40
minutes. How long would it take the two of them to mow the field together?
(portion of job done by person a)(portion of job done by person b) = 1 job
(workrate of person a)(time spent) + (workrate of person b)(time spend) = 1 job
(1/52)t + (1/40)t = 1job
(40t + 52t) / 2080 = 1 job
92t = 2080
T = 2080 / 92
T = 22.60 minutes
It would take the two of them 22.6 minutes to mow the lawn together

9/ One pump can fill a pool in 11 hours and a second pump can empty the same pool in 4 hours.
While the pool is full both pumps are accidentally both turned on at the same time. How long
does it take to empty the pool?
(portion of job done by pump a)(portion of job done by pump b) = 1 job
(workrate of pump a)(time spent) + (workrate of pump b)(time spend) = 1 job
(1/11)t + (1/4)t = 1 job
(4t + 11t) / 44 = 1 job
15t = 44
T = 44/15
T = 2.93 hours
If both pumps are turned on at the same time it would take 2.93 hours to empty the pool.

10/ How much pure acid should we add to a 32% solution to get 10 liters of a 60% acid
solution?

Let v be volume
(amount of acid in pure solution) + (amount of acid 32% solution) = (amount of acid in 60%
solution)
(pure solution) x v + (32% solution) x v = (60% solution) x v
1v + 0.32v = 0.6 x 10
1v + 0.32v = 6
1.32v = 6
V = 6 / 1.32
V = 4.54
We should add 4.54 liters of the pure acid to get 10 liters of a 60% acid solution.

11/ We have 80 liters of a 2% saline solution. How much of a 10% saline solution should we add
to this to increase the salinity to 4%?

Let v be volume
(amount of saline 2% solution) + (amount of saline 10% solution) = (amount of saline 4%
solution)
(2% solution) x v + (10% solution) x v = (0.04% solution) x v
0.02 x 80 + 0.1v = 0.04 x (80 + v)
1.6 + 0.1v = 3.2 + 0.04v
0.06v = 3.2 – 1.6
0.06v = 1.6
V = 1.6 / 0.06
V = 26.667
We should add 26.667 liters of a 10% saline solution to increase the 2% solution to 4%.