Word problem help

[coontafish]

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Ok can somebody help me just get the written equation from the word problem?

Five divided by the difference of a number and 12 equals the quotient of 10 and the sum of the number and 9.

I have the first half as 5/x-12=, but cant get the second part of it. Please help. Thanks!

 

[JeffM]

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Ok can somebody help me just get the written equation from the word problem?

Five divided by the difference of a number and 12 equals the quotient of 10 and the sum of the number and 9.

I have the first half as 5/x-12=, but cant get the second part of it. Please help. Thanks!

Notation issue first. \(\displaystyle 5\ /\ x - 12\ MEANS\ \dfrac{5}{x} - 12.\ You\ should\ have\ written\ 5\ /\ (x - 12),\ which\ MEANS\ \dfrac{5}{x - 12}.\)

But you had the right idea.

The word "quotient" is confusing because it means the result of a division of one number (the divisor or denominator) into another number (the dividend or numerator). As you have worded the problem (which may be the way it is worded in the book), you cannot be 100% certain which number is divisor and which dividend. However, it is normal in English to give the dividend first and the divisor last. So it seems highly likely that 10 is the number that is being divided and (x + 9) is the number doing the division.

Can you finish it up now, or do you need more help?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Another teacher I'd like to choke!!

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