Word Problems - I'm lost!!

[Shuey]

So hello! 1st time poster here! So here's the thing. I've got 2 word problems that i'm wracking my brains on. I don't even know where to begin on either of them. I've tried coming up with different formula's for each one and nothing seems right. So here they are. Any help is appreciated.

1. A large operation has five divisions. Two of the divisions had earnings of $2,300,000 each. The other three divisions had a loss of $1,400,000, a loss of $640,000, and a gain of $1,850,000, respectively. What was the net gain (or loss) of the operation for the year?


2. Annilee's present age is two-thirds of Jessica's present age. In 12 years the sum of their ages will be 54 years. Find their present ages.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

So hello! 1st time poster here! So here's the thing. I've got 2 word problems that i'm wracking my brains on. I don't even know where to begin on either of them. I've tried coming up with different formula's for each one and nothing seems right. So here they are. Any help is appreciated.

1. A large operation has five divisions. Two of the divisions had earnings of $2,300,000 each. The other three divisions had a loss of $1,400,000, a loss of $640,000, and a gain of $1,850,000, respectively. What was the net gain (or loss) of the operation for the year?

I'll discuss a similar problem.

Suppose you had 5 bank accounts:

bank account #1 charged you $5 for finance charge
bank account #2 gave you $3 for interest
bank account #3 gave you $8 for interest
bank account #4 charged you $3 for finance charge
bank account #5 gave you $7 for interest

How much money did you make (or loose) from your bank accounts?

It is a simple addition/subtraction problem!!

2. Annilee's present age is two-thirds of Jessica's present age. In 12 years the sum of their ages will be 54 years. Find their present ages.

I'll discuss a similar problem.

Tom's present age is half of Joe's present age. In 20 years the sum of their ages will be 58 years. Find their present ages.

Tim's present age = T ................twenty years later Tim's age will be = T + 20

Joe's present age = J ................twenty years later Joe's age will be = J + 20

Tom's present age is half of Joe's present age

T = 1/2 * J.............................................................(1)

In 20 years the sum of their ages will be 58 years

(T + 20) + (J + 20) = 58..............................................(2)

T + J = 18..............................................................(3)

Using (1) in (3)

1/2 * J + J = 18

J = 12

T = 1/2*J = 6
Check your answers by putting these values into equation (1) and equation(2)

Follow the exact same procedure......

 

[Denis]

Shuey, what grade are you in?

 

[Shuey]

2. Annilee's present age is two-thirds of Jessica's present age. In 12 years the sum of their ages will be 54 years. Find their present ages.

I'll discuss a similar problem.

Tom's present age is half of Joe's present age. In 20 years the sum of their ages will be 58 years. Find their present ages.

Tim's present age = T ................twenty years later Tim's age will be = T + 20

Joe's present age = J ................twenty years later Joe's age will be = J + 20

Tom's present age is half of Joe's present age

T = 1/2 * J.............................................................(1)

In 20 years the sum of their ages will be 58 years

(T + 20) + (J + 20) = 58..............................................(2)

T + J = 18..............................................................(3)

Using (1) in (3)

1/2 * J + J = 18

J = 12

T = 1/2*J = 6
Check your answers by putting these values into equation (1) and equation(2)

Follow the exact same procedure......

I'm still a wee bit lost. Were did the 18 come from in "T + J = 18"?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

From the line above!!!

(T+20) + (J+20) = 58

T + 20 + J + 20 = 58

T + J + 20 + 20 = 58

T + J + 40 = 58

T + J + 40 - 40 = 58 - 40

T + J = 18

Instead of staring at the screen, take a pencil and paper and write it down.