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Lesson 1 Problem Solving edited

The document outlines a general approach to problem-solving, emphasizing understanding the problem, defining variables, and setting up equations. It includes examples of age problems, work problems, discount calculations, and mixture problems, detailing how to set up and solve each type. Additionally, it provides practice problems for further application of the concepts discussed.

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Charita Mia Cacho
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2 views

Lesson 1 Problem Solving edited

The document outlines a general approach to problem-solving, emphasizing understanding the problem, defining variables, and setting up equations. It includes examples of age problems, work problems, discount calculations, and mixture problems, detailing how to set up and solve each type. Additionally, it provides practice problems for further application of the concepts discussed.

Uploaded by

Charita Mia Cacho
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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General approach in problem solving?

1. Understand the problem.


2. Identify what are the given and what is asked.
3. Define the variables or unknown.
Note: The unknown is usually the least described in the problem
4. Set up an equation or formula for the problem.
5. Solve for the unknown.

AGE PROBLEM
Example 1:
John is 3 times as old as his son. In 10 years, John will be twice as old as his son. What are their ages now?
▪ What is asked: The present age of John and his son.
▪ Define the variables: John is 3 times as old as his son
Let: x - the son’s present age (the son’s age is the unknown because it is the least described)
3x – John’s present age
▪ Set up the equation: In 10 years, John will be twice as old as his son.
3x +10 = 2(x + 10)

Solution: 3x +10 = 2(x + 10)


3x +10 = 2x + 20
3x – 2x = 20 -10
x = 10 (son’s present age) ; 3x = 3(10) = 30 ( John’s present age)
Let’s Practice!
1. Sam is 6 years older than his brother, Kim. In 5 years, Sam will be three times as old as Kim. How old are they now?

▪ What is asked: The present age of Sam and Kim.


▪ Define the variables: Sam is 6 years older than his brother, Kim
Let: x - the present age of Kim (the son’s age is the unknown because it is the least described)
x+6 – Sam’s present age
▪ Set up the equation: In 5 years, Sam will be three times as old as his son
(x + 6) + 5 = 3(x + 5)
Solution:
(x + 11) = 3(x + 5)
x + 11 = 3x + 15
x - 3x = 15 -11
-2x = 4
x = 2 (since there is no negative age, just omit the negative sign)
x = 2 (Kim’s present age) ; x + 6 = 2 + 6 = 8 (Sam’s present age)
WORK PROBLEM
If Tom can paint a room in 3 hours and Jane can paint the same room in 5 hours, how long will it take them to paint the
room together?

▪ What is asked: number of hours Tom and Jane can paint the room together
▪ Define the variables:
Let: x - be the time it takes them (Tom and Jane) to paint the room together.

Note: Tom's work rate is 1/3 of the room per hour Note: How to convert 1.88 hours to hours
and minutes
Jane's work rate is 1/5 of the room per hour.
Multiply the decimal part by 60 mins,
▪ Set up the equation: .88 x 60 mins = 52.8 = 53 minutes
1/3 + 1/5 = 1/x
x = 15/8 = 1.88 hours or 1 hour and 53 mins.

Therefore, it takes them 15/8 hours, or 1 hour and 53minutes for them to paint the room together.
Let’s Practice!
1. John can mow a lawn in 3 hours, and Jack can mow the same lawn in 4 hours. How long will it take them to mow the
lawn together?

What is asked: number of hours John and Jack can mow the lawn together

Define the variables:


Let: x - be the time it takes them (John and Jack) to mow the lawn together.

Note: John’s mowing rate is 1/3 of the lawn per hour


Jack’s mowing rate is 1/4 of the lawn per hour.
1 1 1
▪ Set up the equation: 3 + 4 = x
Solution:
1 1 1
+ =
3 4 x

1 1 1
(12x ) ( 3 + 4 ) = ( x ) (12x) (multiply both sides of the equation with the LCD, 12x)

12x 12x 12x


= ( 3 + 4 ) = ( x ) = 4x + 3x = 12 = 7x= 12 = x = 12/7 hours = 1.71 hours (number of hours for Jack and John
to finish mowing the lawn together)
DISCOUNT PROBLEM
A store is offering a 20% discount on all items. A customer buys a shirt for $25, pants for $35, and shoes for $50. How much
does the customer save in total with the discount?

Solution:
To find out how much the customer saves, we first need to calculate the price of each item after the discount.

For the shirt, 0.2 x $25 = $5. So the customer pays $25 - $5 = $20 for the shirt.
For the pants, 0.2 x $35 = $7. So the customer pays $35 - $7 = $28 for the pants.
For the shoes, 0.2 x $50 = $10. So the customer pays $50 - $10 = $40 for the shoes.

Adding all the discounts: $5 + $7 + $10 = $22

Therefore, the customer saved a total of $22 with the 20% discount.
MIXTURE PROBLEM
Maria has a jar of coins that contains only 10-peso coins and 5-peso coins. The total value of the coins in the jar is 250
pesos, and there are a total of 30 coins in the jar. How many of each type of coin does Maria have in her jar?

Using a substitution method to solve for x and y

Let: x be the number of 10-peso coins in the jar


y be the number of 5-peso coins.

x + y = 30 (since there are 30 coins in the jar)


10x + 5y = 250 (since the total value of the coins in the jar is 350 pesos)

Solving this system of equations, we can find the values of x and y:

x + y = 30 (equation 1)
10x + 5y = 250 (equation 2)

Using equation 1, equate it to either x or y. This time I will choose to equate it to x. Thus, the equation will become,
x = 30 – y (equation 3) or y = 30 – x (equation 3)
Substitute equation 3 to equation 2, we have:

10x + 5y = 250 (equation 2)


x = 30 – y (equation 3)

Substituting,
10 (30 – y ) + 5y = 250
300 -10y + 5y = 250
-10 y +5y = 250 -300
-5y = -50
−5𝑦 50
= −5 (divide both sides of the equation by -5, to solve for y)
−5
y = 10 (there are 10 pieces of 5-peso coins)

Solving for x, we can use equation 3 to substitute y=10 because it is more simple to operate. We have,
x = 30 – y
x = 30 -10
x = 20 (there are 20 pieces of 10-peso coins)

Checking:
10x + 5y = 250
10 (20) + 5(10) = 250
200 +50 = 250
250 = 250
Activity 1: Solve the following problems and provide a complete solution. Label your final
answers with the appropriate unit.

1. Mark is 8 years older than Jane. In 4 years, Mark will be twice as old as Jane. How old
are they now?

2. A machine can fill a water tank in 8 hours. Another machine can fill the same tank in 12
hours. How long would it take both machines working together to fill the tank?

3. A store is offering a 25% discount on all items. A customer buys a sweater for $40 and a
pair of jeans for $60. The store charges a 6% sales tax on all purchases. What is the total
cost of the purchase, including the discount and sales tax?

Note: A sales tax is a tax that is added to the price of goods or services when they are sold to consumers. The sales tax is
usually a percentage of the total price of the item or service, and the exact percentage can vary depending on the location
and the type of item or service being sold.

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