Algebra Demystified 2nd Ed

58 algebra De mystif ieD

deMYstiFied / algebra deMYstiFied / HuttenMuller / 000-0 / Chapter2

A store is having a one-third off sale on a certain model of air conditioner.

Let x = regular price of the air conditioner. Then^23 x = sale price of the

air conditioner.

We can’t say that the sale price is x−^13 because^13 is not “one-third off

the price of the air conditioner”—it is simply “one-third.” “One-third

the price of the air conditioner” is represented by 31 x. “One-third off the

price of the air conditioner” is represented by subtracting one-third of

the price from the price:

xx− =−=xx xx−

−

1

313

3

3

Priceone-thirdtheprice

33

2

3

2

3

==x x

PRACTICE

Fill in the blanks.

1. Tony is three years older than Marie.
   Marie’s age = __.
   Tony’s age = __.


2. Sandie is three-fourths as tall as Mona.
   Mona’s height (in the given unit of measure) = __.
   Sandie’s height (in the given unit of measure) = __.


3. Sam takes two hours longer than Lisa to compute his taxes.
   Number of hours Lisa takes to compute her taxes = __.
   Number of hours Sam takes to compute his taxes = __.


4. Three-fifths of a couple’s net income is spent on rent.
   Net income = __.
   Amount spent on rent = _____.


5. A rectangle’s length is four times its width.
   Width (in the given unit of measure) = __.
   Length (in the given unit of measure) = __.


6. Candice paid $5000 last year in federal and state income taxes.
   Amount paid in federal income taxes = __.
   Amount paid in state income taxes = __.

PRACTICE

Fill in the blanks.