Word Problems

[ks89031]

Hi everyone,

I am not sure if this would constitute as beginning algebra, but I sure hope so. This is what I have been given.

"It has been estimated that Halley's comet has a mass of 100 billion tons. Further, this comet is estimated to lose 100 million tons of material during the few months that its orbit brings it close to the Sun. With an orbital period of 76 years, what is the maximum remaining life span of Halley's comet?"

I attempted to start this off by hand, and it will take virtually forever if I continued to approach it in that matter.... Any ideas or formulas you can give me in order to figure this out?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Hi everyone,

I am not sure if this would constitute as beginning algebra, but I sure hope so. This is what I have been given.

"It has been estimated that Halley's comet has a mass of 100 billion tons. Further, this comet is estimated to lose 100 million tons of material during the few months that its orbit brings it close to the Sun. With an orbital period of 76 years, what is the maximum remaining life span of Halley's comet?"

I attempted to start this off by hand, and it will take virtually forever if I continued to approach it in that matter.... Any ideas or formulas you can give me in order to figure this out?

what fraction of 1000 is 1?

what fraction of 100 billion (10^11) is 100 million (10^8)?

 

[ks89031]

what fraction of 1000 is 1? --- 1/1000
What fraction of 10^11 is 10^8? --- 10^11/10^8 (right?)

That would result in 10^3 if I am not mistaken. Which is 1,000.

So with that answer, how would I incorporate the 76 years?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

what fraction of 1000 is 1? --- 1/1000
What fraction of 10^11 is 10^8? --- 10^11/10^8 (right?)<<< No -- it would be 10^8/10^11 = 10^(-3)

That would result in 10^3 if I am not mistaken. Which is 1,000.

So with that answer, how would I incorporate the 76 years?

Think about it - what fraction is gone per trip?