KOLEHIYO NG LUNGSOD NG DASMARIÑAS

Brgy. Burol Main, Dasmariñas City, Cavite

Institute of Engineering
CE0113 Engineering Mathematics

FINAL TERM LESSON #1 CONTINUATION II

SOLUTIONS TO LINEAR EQUATIONS

XI. APPLICATIONS OF LINEAR EQUATION IN ONE UNKNOWN

A stated problem, or word problem, or applied problem, is a description of a situation that

involves both known and unknown quantities and relationships between them. A problem
involving one unknown can be solved by used of a single equation.

As is true for any skill, the process of solving a word problem requires considerable
practice to become adept at it. Most people find the following approach helpful. It may be applied
not only in this section, but in all cases where a problem is stated and must be “translated into an
equation” and then solved.

1. Read the problem carefully and make sure the situation is thoroughly understood.
2. Identify the quantities, both known and unknown, that are involved in the problem.
3. Select one of the unknown quantities and represent it by a variable (letter), and then
express any other unknowns in terms of this variable, if possible.
4. Search the problem for information that tells what quantities or combinations of them are
equal. It often helps to organize data in a table.
5. Often, making a sketch helps to carry out step 4.
6. Write an equation using the algebraic expression found in step 5. Carrying through the
calculations with an initial guess sometimes helps to clarify the relationship between
variables.
7. Solve the equation obtained in step 6.
8. Check the solution in the original problem. This step is critical since we want a solution of
the stated problem rather than of the equation that we wrote.

The following examples illustrate how various English statements can be represented by
linear equations:

a) “x is 25 more than y” or
“x is greater than y by 25” or
“y is 25 less than x” or
“The value of x decreased by 25 is y”

Equation: 𝑥 = 25 + 𝑦 or 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 25
 b) “The sum of x and y is 380.”
“y is 380 diminished by x”
“The values of x and y total 380”

Equation: 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 380 or 𝑦 = 380 − 𝑥

c) “The sum of four consecutive integers is 178.”

Equation: +(𝑥 + 1) + (𝑥 + 2) + (𝑥 + 3) = 178 , where x is the smallest of the four

integers.

d) “x is twice y” or “y is half of x”

Equation: 𝑥 = 2𝑦 or 𝑦 = 𝑥/2
e) “x is 17 less than twice y”

Equation: 𝑥 = 2𝑦 − 17
f) “Kaye’s age is 3 more than twice what it was 10 years ago.”

Equation: 𝑥 = 3 + 2(𝑥 − 10), where x is Kaye’s age now.

g) “P106.50 is the interest earned on P1,800 if part of it is invested at 5% and the rest at
6.5%.”

Equation: 106.50 = 0.05𝑥 + 0.065(1800 − 𝑥 ), where x is the investment at 5% and

1800-x at 6.5%.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

GEOMETRIC PROBLEM. If a rectangle has a length that is 3cm less than four times its width and
its perimeter is 19 cm, what are the dimensions of the rectangle?

SOLUTION: The dimensions of a rectangle are its width and length. Let us now have the
assignments of symbols:

𝑤 = width in cm
4𝑤 − 3 = length in cm
 The perimeter of a rectangle is the total distance around it. Therefore, the perimeter of
the rectangle can be represented by either w + (4w – 3) + w + (4w – 3) or 19; thus we have the
equation:

𝑤 + (4𝑤 − 3) + 𝑤 + (4𝑤 − 3) = 19
10𝑤 − 6 = 19
10𝑤 = 25
𝑤 = 5/2

5
4𝑤 − 3 = 4 ( ) − 3 = 7
2

Hence, the width of the rectangle is 5/2 cm and the length is 7 cm. By checking, 5/2 + 7 +
5/2 + 7 which is 19.

UNIFORM MOTION PROBLEM. Mrs. Javier boarded a bus bound for Baguio at exactly 4 a.m. One
and one-half hours later, her husband followed driving the family car at 75km per hour. Assuming
that the bus was travelling at a uniform speed of 50km per hour, at what time will Mr. Javier
overtake the bus?

SOLUTION: Let x be the number of hours needed to overtake the bus. The equation:

75𝑥 = 50(𝑥 + 1.5)

75𝑥 = 50𝑥 + 75
25𝑥 = 75
𝑥=3

Hence, Mr. Javier will catch up with the bus at (4 + 1.5 + 3) = 8.5 or 8:30 am.

MIXTURE PROBLEM. Determine how many liters of a 7 percent acid solution and how many liters
of 12-percent acid solution should be mixed by a chemist to obtain 6 liters of a 10-percent acid
solution.

SOLUTION: We need to determine the number of liters of each solution to be used. Therefore we
make the following definitions:

𝑥 = number of liters of the 7 percent acid solution

6 − 𝑥 = number of liters of the 12 percent acid solution

The following table will be helpful:

Percent of Acid x No. of liters of solution = No. of liters of acid
7% acid solution 7% x 0.07x
12% acid solution 12% 6–x 0.12(6 – x)
Mixture 10% 6 0.10(6)
 From the last column in the table we see that the total number of liters of acid in the
mixture can be represent by either 0.10(6) or 0.07x + 0.12(6 – x). Thus we have the equation:

0.07𝑥 + 0.12(6 − 𝑥 ) = 0.10(6)

0.07𝑥 + 0.72 − .12𝑥 = 0.60
−0.05𝑥 = 0.60 − 0.72
−0.05𝑥 = −0.12
−0.12
𝑥=
−0.05
𝑥 = 2.4

6 − 𝑥 = 6 − 2.4 = 3.6

Therefore the chemist should use 2.4 liters of the 7% acid solution and 3.6 liters of the
12 % acid solution.

WORK PROBLEM. A farmer can plow a field in four days using a tractor. A hired hand can plow
the same field in 6 days by using a smaller tractor. How many days will be required for the plowing
if they work together?

SOLUTION: We let x be the number of days required to plow the field working together. Then for
the part of the field plowed by each in 1 day,

¼ = the part plowed in 1 day by the farmer

1/6 = the part plowed in 1 day by the hired hand, and
1/x = the part plowed in 1 day by the two of them

We now make use of the fact that the part plowed in 1 day by the farmer plus the part
plowed in 1 day by the hired hand equals the part plowed in 1 day by the two;

1 1 1
+ =
4 6 𝑥

This is the desired equation, and we solve it first by ridding of fractions, that is multiplying
the equation by the LCD, 12x.

3𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 12
5𝑥 = 12
12
𝑥=
5
12
They will plow the field in days working together.
5
EXERCISE #1

Solve the following word problems.

1) The sum of two numbers is 36. If the larger number is divided by the smaller number, the
quotient is 2 and the remainder is 3. Find the numbers.
2) If the width of a rectangle is 2cm more than one-half of its length and its perimeter is 40
cm, what are the dimensions?
3) Gemma is thrice as old as CJ. Ten years from now, the sum of their ages is 28. How old are
they now?
4) Beth and Luz share a room. If the monthly rental is P1,500 and Luz pays twice as much as
Beth, how much does each pay?
5) Mr. A can paint a house in 10 days while Mr. B can paint the same house in 15 days. How
many days will be required for the painting of the house if they work together?