Need help with Algebra problem
- Thread starter tricia
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I am GUESSING that no bees flew east.
Always start a word problem by defining the relevant unknowns.
\(\displaystyle Let\ b = the\ total\ number\ of\ bees.\)
\(\displaystyle Let\ n = the\ number\ of\ north/flying\ bees.\)
\(\displaystyle Let\ s = the\ number\ of\ south/flying\ bees.\)
\(\displaystyle Let\ w = the\ number\ of\ west/flying\ bees.\)
The second step is to turn the conditions of the problem into mathematical form, usually equations.
What equations do you get? How many do you need?
mmm4444bot
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Using JeffM's symbol b for the total number of bees, I would express all the given fractional bee amounts in terms of symbol b.
Those three fractional amounts of the unknown bee total b (that is, the North-, South-, & West-flying bees) plus the one lazy bee all add up to the total, yes?
In words, we say the following equation to model the given information:
"One-fifth of b PLUS one-third of b PLUS three TIMES (one-third of b MINUS one-fifth of b) PLUS one EQUALS b"
Does that make sense? If you write it down mathematically, the next step is to solve for b.
If you're still stuck writing the equation or solving it, please tell us (please bee specific)! Cheers
Those three fractional amounts of the unknown bee total b (that is, the North-, South-, & West-flying bees) plus the one lazy bee all add up to the total, yes?
In words, we say the following equation to model the given information:
"One-fifth of b PLUS one-third of b PLUS three TIMES (one-third of b MINUS one-fifth of b) PLUS one EQUALS b"
Does that make sense? If you write it down mathematically, the next step is to solve for b.
If you're still stuck writing the equation or solving it, please tell us (please bee specific)! Cheers
Last edited:
MarkUsing JeffM's symbol b for the total number of bees, I would express all the given fractional bee amounts in terms of symbol b.
Those three fractional amounts of the unknown bee total b (that is, the North-, South-, & West-flying bees) plus the one lazy bee all add up to the total, yes?
In words, we say the following equation to model the given information:
"One-fifth of b PLUS one-third of b PLUS three TIMES (one-fifth of b MINUS one-fifth of b) PLUS one EQUALS b"
Does that make sense? If you write it down mathematically, the next step is to solve for b.
If you're still stuck writing the equation or solving it, please tell us (please bee specific)! Cheers
I know that your way is the traditional way to teach algebra: try to keep the number of variables to one as long as possible. I disagree that that is the best way to teach it. (What do I know: I never taught anyone's kids except mine, and then only until my son's math studies started to go beyond mine.) The traditional way essentially requires kids to do substitutions in their heads as they formulate the problem. I'd rather teach kids the mechanics of systems of linear equations right up front and then teach them to do word problems as a three-step process of (1) identifying relevant variables or unknowns and symbolizing them with letters, (2) translating the conditions of the problem from words into equations using those symbols, and (3) solving the resulting problem in pure math.
If I have identified the bees travelling north as n and the total number of bees as b, finding the equation that n = (1/5)b is very easy. If I am trying to start by formulating a single equation in b, I have to keep a lot of things in my head at once.