Hosted by Dolphin Designs Comment to: lawrence@carol.net a © David Lawrence 2000 .

Learn the basics of Algebra in 3 minutes See if you can folow the question below and how we deal with it. We are going to go back to Question 8 and go through it in more detail. First, read the question. Question 8: Jennifer went shopping for birthday presents. She spent half of what she had, plus $5, for a blouse; then half of what was left, plus $5, for a cookbook; then half of what was left, plus $5, for stationery. Jennifer had nothing left. How much money did she start with? and what was the cost of each purchase? Take this slowly, and read the question again. The thing we are trying to find is what money Jennifer started out with, and since she spent all her money. we'll write: Let 'x' equal the total money Jennifer spent. To get the thing clear in your mind we'll make a rough sketch of the purchases Jennifer made. Now let us figure what she spent on each item in algebra terms Blouse cost = (x ÷ 2) + 5 ........................................Half the money she has + 5 This left a remainder of (x÷2) - 5 Cookbook cost = (x ÷ 4) - 2.1/2 + 5 .................. Half the remainder + 5 This left a remainder of (x ÷ 4) - 7.1/2 Stationery cost = (x ÷ 8) - 3.3/4 + 5 ................. Half the remainder + 5 Now we can write the equation as follows and then apply the figures and solve the equation for 'x': 'x' = Cost of the blouse + Cost of the cookbook + Cost of the stationery x = (x ÷ 2) + 5 ................ + (x ÷ 4) - 2.1/2 + 5 ........+ (x ÷ 8) - 3.3/4 + 5 x = (x ÷ 2) + 5..................+ (x ÷ 4) + 2.1/2 ............. + (x ÷ 8) + 1.1/4 8x = 4x + 40 + 2x - 20 + 40 + x - 30 + 40 ................... (Multiply throughout by 8 to bring ........................................................................................................ x's to whole numbers) 8x - 4x -2x - x = 40 - 20 + 40 - 30 + 40 x =   Click on the answer below you believe is the correct one. Answer to question 8: A' - 70 'B' - 80 'C' - 90 'D' - 93.67 Home page