Page 63 - MarceAlgebra Demystified

50 CHAPTER 2 Introduction to Variables

Let x ¼ length of the longest piece.

1 x ¼ length of the middle piece
3
1 x ¼ length of the shortest piece
4
A store is having a one-third off sale on a certain model of air con-
ditioner.

2
Let x ¼ regular price of the air conditioner. Then x ¼ sale price of the
3
air conditioner.
1
1
We cannot say that the sale price is x because is not ‘‘one-third off
3 3
the price of the air conditioner;’’ it is simply ‘‘one-third.’’ ‘‘One-third
1
the price of the air conditioner’’ is represented by x. ‘‘One-third off the
3
price of the air conditioner’’ is represented by
1 x x 3x x 2x 2
x x ¼ ¼ ¼ ¼ x:
3 1 3 3 3 3 3

Practice

1. Tony is three years older than Marie.
Marie’s age ¼ ________
Tony’s age ¼ ________
2. Sandie is three-fourths as tall as Mona.
Mona’s height (in the given unit of measure) ¼ ________
Sandie’s height (in the given unit of measure) ¼ ________
3. Michael takes two hours longer than Gina to compute his taxes.
Number of hours Gina takes to compute her taxes ¼ ________
Number of hours Michael takes to compute his taxes ¼ ________
4. Three-fifths of a couple’s net income is spent on rent
Net income ¼ ________
Amount spent on rent ¼ ________
5. A rectangle’s length is four times its width
Width (in the given unit of measure) ¼ ________
Length (in the given unit of measure) ¼ ________
6. Candice paid $5000 last year in federal and state income taxes.
Amount paid in federal income taxes ¼ ________
Amount paid in state income taxes ¼ ________