Need Algebra and Geometry Help ASAP!!!

I suck at math but I've found the web to be very helpful at teaching concepts. When my son was doing poorly I did a web search and found videos on youtube and teachertube that showed how to do the problems.

For #3. Warren is now 4 years old and Erin is 3 times that; 12 years old. In 4 years, Erin will be 16 years old and Warren will be 8 years old...Erin being twice Warren's age. (I hate Geometry...the course itself and the teacher. I had to take it 3 years...with the same teacher...and refused to to learn because I knew I'd never need any of that ever for the rest of my life...and I've been right so far! Finally, they let me take trig, which I aced.

Rob, thats great but they want the answers in algebraic 5 step form...thanks anyway!

I would also check the web. My undrestanding of math is not helpful. I had no interest in it at school because I had teacher's who only spoiled those who "got it" immediatly. The rest of us were ignored, good luck on your search, and keep us posted about your daughter. Tell her to hang in there because a female with math capabilities is able to conquer a lot. Ellen B

It's been about 30 yrs. since I've done geometry and I would be hard-pressed to recall my children's middel names, never mind remembering geograhic theorems, but as far a Geometry goes, you have to memorize them, all problems can be solved using the applicable one. Sorry I could be of more help, but as Shelley suggested, the web has some fantastic websites. Try www.coolmath4kids.com.

For #2. The original number is 56. Reversing, it's 65. 65 is 9 more than 56. The sum of adding the components of the original number, 5 + 6 = 11. Don't ask me to show my work. I always got in trouble because I couldn't. I read the question and the answer just pops up in my mind...no figuring or thinking process involved. That's why part of the reason I couldn't pass the damn class...LOL!

that is one of our big problems with this math..with a lot of patience we have figured out a whole lot, but at the end of nearly every question they want us to show the "check" or how we got the answer.. if she doesn;t show that she gets the answer wrong even if it is right!

For the fraction, 0.01 written as a fraction is "1/100"...One one hundreth. 1.0 is One...0.1 is one tenth "1/10"...0.01 is one one hundreth "1/100"...0.001 is one one thousandth "1/1,000"

What is the algebraic 5 step method? I have marked standardized math and science tests for a testing firm and I do find this conceptually easy. Algebra and geometry have not changed much in millenia. But, I can't stand the pedantry. Therefore, a good website would be more help than an out of date geezer.

If she's taking the course by mail, wouldn't she have the teaching materials to refer back to? Maybe that would help....

I'm with Rob... some of these answers I can come up with in my head, but I can't do a "5-step method." Maybe that's why I never got higher than a B- in Algebra, Geometry or Trig.

Join my Fan Club at www.floydthedog.com and I will ask my Boss (who used to teach math) to help you step by step. I am one smart dog!

MANDI

GO TO

math.com

they have everything you need. Honeystly.

I flunked Algegra, couldn't do Geometry then, I can't even keep my check book balanced..Sorry

thanks all!

we have no teachers book and only snail mail help which tells us to refer to the book!!!!!!!!!!!! they set us up to fail!!!!!

good suggestions to check the web ....

If you tell me what the 5 step method is I would be glad to help.

#1

Speed downstream equals A
Speed upstream equal B
Speed times Time = Distance
Downstream = A X 3 = 20, A=6 2/3 miles/hr
Upstream = B X 4 = 20, B = 5 miles/hr
Current = Difference of Downstream and Upstream divide by 2 = 1 2/3 dived by 2 = 5/6 miles/hr
Speed in still water = upstream plus current or downstream minus current = 5 plus 5/6 = 5 5/6 miles/hr

When I was in college, I worked as a high school and college math tutor, but I have to admit, I am not familiar with a 5 step method. It has been a little while since I have been tutoring, and when it was my own kids, I always had their books to look at the examples. If you can't find somebody, write the examples and gather mail then to me and I will see if I can help with the explaination. My strong suit is usually explaination. I would give it a try. I would just have to see the full instruction pages, that is the problem. Good luck and let me know if I can help, I will give it a try!

I found this information on the web and hope that it is helpful to you and your daughter.

#1
Speed of the sailboat in still water: r
Rate of the current: c
Distance = Speed * Time
20 = (r + c) * 3
20 = (r - c) * 4

From 20 = (r - c) * 4:
20 / 4 = (r - c) * 4 / 4
5 = r - c
r - c + c = 5 + c
r = 5 + c

Substitute r = 5 + c into 20 = (r + c) * 3
20 = (5 + c + c) * 3
20 = (5 + 2c) * 3
20 = 15 + 6c
20 - 15 = 15 + 6c - 15
5 = 6c
6c / 6 = 5 / 6
c = 5/6

Substitute c = 5/6 into r = 5 + c:
r = 5 + (5/6)
r = 35/6

The speed of the sailboat in still water is 35/6 mph, and the rate of the current is 5/6 mph.

#3
Now:
Warren's age: w
Erin's age: 3w

After 4 years:
Warren's age: w + 4
Erin's age: 3w + 4

3w + 4 = 2(w + 4)
3w + 4 = 2w + 8
3w + 4 - 2w = 2w + 8 - 2w
w + 4 = 8
w + 4 - 4 = 8 - 4
w = 4

3w = 3(4) = 12

Erin is 12 years old, and Warren is 4 years old.

#2
Let x = the first digit and y = the second digit.

Then the number = 10x + y and
the number reversed = 10y + x

the sum of the digits of the original number
is 11

x + y = 11

When the digits of a two-digit number are
reversed, the new number is 9 more than the original
number

(10y + x) = (10x + y) + 9

simplifying:
10y + x = 10x + y + 9
9y - 9x = 9

Dividing thru by 9
y - x = 1

So you have this system if equations:

x + y = 11
y - x = 1

Solve that by substitution and get x=5, y=6

So the number is 56.

Checking in the words:
When the digits of 56 are reversed, you get the
new number 65, and that is indeed 9 more than 56,
and the sum of the digits of 56 is 5+6 which
indeed does equal 11.

I found it!

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE VARIABLE. State exactly what it is that the variable represents. For example, "Let x = the number" or "Let x = the smaller of two numbers" or "Let x = the width of a rectangle" or "Let x = the number of dimes" Then express all other quantities to be used in the problem in terms of x. This is the most important, often the most difficult, and usually the most overlooked step of the problem.

STEP 2: WRITE THE EQUATION. Having completed Step 1, use this step in writing the equation. This is often no more than translating a sentence of the problem into an equation. Read the problem carefully, paraphrasing as necessary.

STEP 3: SOLVE THE EQUATION. This is usually the easy part!

STEP 4: ANSWER THE QUESTION. After solving for x, there may be other quantities to be determined. Be sure you have answered the question before going on to the next exercise.

STEP 5: CHECK. Check the answers in the worded problem itself and make sure the solution actually works. Reject any extraneous (i.e., inappropriate) answers.

How bout your local library? Most of them participate in some kind of live online homework help program (I know we have accessPA here in PA and I found ones for Alaska and CA in the top hits on google - but you need a library card to access any of them.)

You've brought back high school nightmares! Thanks!

I am always too slow. I'd never make it on Jeopardy.

Others have already solved this (in fratctions; whereas I went decimal) but since I did the work I feel like posting it anyway.

I don't know about the five step method. Maybe you can translate my scratches into it.

Cheers -

--

#1. A sailboat travels 20 miles downstream in 3 hours. It returns in 4 hours. Find the speed of the sailboat in still water and the rate of current.

--

rate of current and speed of boat are constants

20 miles is traveled

boat speed against and with the current

need boat speed in still water

need speed of current

--

rate * time = distance


Downstream (with the current)

(boat speed + current) * 3 hours = 20 miles

(boat speed + current) = 20 miles / 3 hours

(boat speed + current) = 6.66 miles per hour


Upstream (against the current)

(boat speed - current) * 4 hours = 20 miles

(boat speed - current) = 20 miles / 4 hours

(boat speed - current) = 5 miles per hour


Splitting up the speeds

the boat's speed is a constant and the opposing applications of the current's effects create the difference between the two traveling experiences (formulas)

6.66 miles per hour (with the current) - 5 miles per hour (against the current) = 1.66 (difference in rate of travel)

1.66 / 2 (instances) = .83 (rate of the current)

Speed of the boat

6.66 miles per hour (with the current) - .83 (rate of the current) = 5.83 miles per hour (speed of the boat)

5 miles per hour (against the current) + .83 (rate of the current) = 5.83 miles per hour (speed of the boat)

Checking the work

Downstream

(speed of boat + speed of current) * time = distance

(5.83 miles per hour + .83 miles per hour) * 3 hours = 20 (19.98)

(speed of boat - speed of current) * time = distance

(5.83 - .83) * 4 = 20 (20)

--

Here's hopping that your daughter gets better.

Peace -

Bill

5 Step Method:

1. Write down the "given" or the known information.
2. Determine and write down the unknown variable.
3. Choose an appropriate equation.
4. Isolate the unknown in the equation.
5. Plug the known values into the equation, solve for the unknown.

So for Question 1:

Step 1: What you know

Distance = 20 miles
Time down = 3 hrs
Time up = 4 hrs

Step 2: What you don't know.

Speed of the water flow
Speed of the boat

Step 3: Choose equations

Speed = Distance/Time (miles/hr)

Speed = Speed of Boat + Speed of Water (going down the water pushes the boat faster, going up the water pushes the boat slower)

Let Speed of Boat = X
Let Speed of Water = Y

So Speed of Boat +/- Speed of Water = Distance/Time

We know, too, that the distance is the same (constant), so it's best to move that to one side of the equation.

So Distance = (Speed of Boat + Speed of Water)*Time

So going downstream: 20miles = (X + Y)*3hrs
And Returning: 20miles = (X-Y)*4hrs [- because now the speed of the water is working against the boat]

Now, because the distance is the same, these two equal each other, so:

(X+Y)*3 = (X-Y)*4

Step 4: Isolate the unknown

3X+3Y = 4X-4Y
7Y=X

Step 5: Insert back into the equation

20 = (7Y + Y)*3
20 = 24Y
20/24 = Y
5/6 = Y

20 = (X + 5/6)*3
20 = 3X + 15/6
40/2 = 3X + 5/2
35/2 = 3X
X=35/6

Then you can check your work in the other equation

20 = (X-Y)*4
20 = (35/6 - 5/6)*4
20 = (30/6)*4
20 = (5)*4
20 = 20
Yay!

So the boat travels at 35/6 mph = 5.83 mph
And the river travels at 5/6 mph = .83 mph

I think. I bet that's still confusing. It's been a long time since algebra.

Try some of these websites for help....they worked for us!

http://www.freemathhelp.com/algebra-help.html

http://www.mathnerds.com/mathnerds/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fmathnerds%2fclient%2fmain.aspx

this one will help you solve equations
http://www.hostsrv.com/webmab/app1/MSP/quickmath/02/pageGenerate?site=quickmath&s1=equations&s2=solve&s3=basic

post problems on this board and someone will help you solve them!~
http://helpalgebra.proboards44.com/index.cgi?action=login

Good Luck! :-D

So you don't need me to ask the Boss to help because you have it all here already - even so all of you could still join my Fan Club - its easy, its fun and its free! www.floydthedog.com

Bill's spirit and John if I ever see you in this world I am going to kiss you both!!!!!!!!!
we were able to interpret what you taught us and write it out like the school wants!

thank you so much!

I still need help with the other problems Floyd!! please help!!!

looks like you are well on the way... i did ok in school on the subjects but now i only use and do math my way. so i'll cheer you and those who know on and say yay on Gather community for helping you through.

on the .01 question, does the bar top the 1 only or the 0 also? the bar means "repeats forever", so it could be .0111111111 etc. or .0101010101 etc.

tamara..the bar tops the .01 of the 0.01

Mandi, it's times like these that I wish I hadn't failed Algebra 1 three times and I am unable to help. During tests, I tried to sit next to those who did well but I could never make out their answers.

0.01 with a bar on top of 01 means 0.01010101..... repeating forever

It is equal to 1/99 in fraction form.

To work this out let 0.0101010101... = 1/x.


Now 0.0101010101.... = 0.01 + 0.0001 + 0.000001......

This can also be expressed as : 1/100 + 1/ ( 100 squared ) + 1/ ( 100 cubed ) ....

Therefore 1/x = 1/100 + 1/ (100 squared ) + 1/ ( 100 cubed ) ...

Multiplying both sides by x, we get:

1 = x/100 + x/(100 squared) + x/ ( 100 cubed ) ....

Now 1 is in fact equivalent to 0.9999999.... ( continuing forever)

and 0.9999999999.... = 0.99 + 0.0099 + 0.000099.....

which equals to: 99/100 + 99/(100 squared) + 99/ ( 100 cubed )....

Comparing the 2 sides we get:

99/100 + 99/( 100 squared) + 99/(100 cubed ) = x/100 + x/( 100 squared ) +...

Taking out the common factor of 99 from Left hand side and the common factor of x on Right hand side we obtain that x = 99.

Hope that helps Mandy.

If you have more questions about this, please write to me.

The answer to the .01 problem would be 1/9900.099. You take 100 divided by .01 repeating. It gives you the denominator and 01 automatically becomes 1. My son just finished geometry and he is the one who told me how to do this. I hope it is right and that it helps.

I could sit and struggle with this - being in vacation mode, my brain doesn't work as well
Or, I can sit in awe of all the helpful people here.
I bow to the greater authority.
It's wonderful how much assistance you got.

See how dumb...go through all that work...I came up with the correct answers within a fraction of a second. Who cares how you get the right answer...as long as you GET the right answer. Not like I cheated and copied off someone.

good luck mandi!

the answer is 1/99, but i don't know how to use their method to solve it... i just looked at it this way... if 1/100 is .01 then my denominator must be 1 less than one hundred so I keep ending up with a 1 in the numerator... thinking of fraction in division terms ... maybe one of these other people can put it into that method.. sorry

So sorry my daughter who is trained as a high school math teacher wasnt here today to help you. She doesnt teach school any more but still loves mathmatics...t

thanks all, you ARE helping!!!

tara, rock on lady!!!

Oh i'm so glad people are able to help you because i am AWFUL at math - I was always and artsy girl!!

Mandi - Only on the cheek.

I wouldn't want my sweet Donna Blue-Eyes to get jealous. :-)

I'm glad I could help.

Mandi,

It looks as though you have the help you need and I'm glad because I'm so rusty at math I just remember a few of the basics which probable won't help you all that much!

Sorry I was so late to this. Not that I would have been much help anyway. I used to be an 'A' student in Albebra but that was a long time ago and cannont remember any of it.

I am glad to see you got so much help with this. Good luck to your daughter in completing the courses.

I received a smattering of both old and new math and have no idea what your daughter's math terminology of 5-step method means, but here are the answers with my work (which took much longer to write down than it took me to calculate the answers in my head.

BTW, I really wish that jr. high and high school math courses would quite trying to use sailboats in their examples. They only demonstrate their ignorance of physics and sailing in general. For starters, the distance required for a sailboat to cover the straight-line length between points A and B is greater than A to B because of the sailboat needing to tack at an angle to wind. Even if the sailboat could take a dead run in one direction the boat would have to hard reach making multiple tacks to return from B to A ... However, the answer I provided is correct using the false assumptions of the question.
#1
20/3 = 6.67
20/4 = 5
6.67+5 =11.67
11.67/2 = 5.84mph is the boat's rate of travel in still water
6.67-5 = 1.67
1.67/2 = 0.84mph is the flow rate of the current

#2
I would build a table of 2 digit numbers whose digits add up to 11, reverse the digits, and list the difference between the original number and its digit reversal:
29 - 92 = -63
38 - 83 = -45
47 - 74 = -27
56 - 65 = -9
The answer is 56
The answer can be proofed by two realignments of the equation:
Proof #1:
56 - (-9) = 65
56 + 9 = 65
Proof #2:
65 - 9 = 56

#3
E = 3W now, and in four years E+4 = 2(W+4)

3W+4 = 2(W+4)
3W+4 = 2W+8
(3W-2W)+4 = (2W-2W)+8
W+4 = 8
W+4 - 4 = 8 - 4
W = 4

E = 3W
E = 3(4)
E = 12

Erin is now 12 years old and Warren is 4 years old.

The Bonus question.
.01 is written in fraction form as 1/100

Problem #1

Using the 5-step method solve: a sailboat travels 20 miles downstream in 3 hours. it returns in 4 hours. find the spped of the sailboat in still water and the rate of the current.


Speed of the sailboat in still water: r
Rate of the current: c

Distance = Speed * Time

20 = (r + c) * 3
20 = (r - c) * 4

From 20 = (r - c) * 4:
20 / 4 = (r - c) * 4 / 4
5 = r - c
r - c + c = 5 + c
r = 5 + c
Substitute r = 5 + c into 20 = (r + c) * 3
20 = (5 + c + c) * 3
20 = (5 + 2c) * 3
20 = 15 + 6c
20 - 15 = 15 + 6c - 15
5 = 6c
6c / 6 = 5 / 6
c = 5/6
Substitute c = 5/6 into r = 5 + c:
r = 5 + (5/6)
r = 35/6
The speed of the sailboat in still water is 35/6 mph, and the rate of the current is 5/6 mph.

Problem 2

The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 10. If the digits are reversed,the new number is one less than twice the original number. What is the number?: The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 10. If the digits are reversed,the new number is one less than twice the original number. What is the number?

The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 10. If the digits are reversed,the new number is one less than twice the original number. What is the number?
--------
Comment: Any two-digit number can be expressed as 10t+u where
t is the ten's digit and u is the unit's digit.
----------------------
EQUATION;
t+u = 10
10u+t = 2(10t+u)-1
Simplify the 2nd equation as follows:
10u+t = 20t+2u-1
19t-8u=1
-----------
Rewrite as follows:
t+u=10
19t-8u=1
----------
t=10-u
Substitute into the 2nd equation to solve for u, as follows:
19(10-u)-8u=1
190-27u=1
27u=189
u=7
Then t=10-u=3
----------
The original number is 37
==========

Problem 3

Using the 5-step method solve: erin's age is 3 times warren's. in 4 years she will be twice as old as he will be. how old is each now?


Now:
Warren's age: w
Erin's age: 3w
After 4 years:
Warren's age: w + 4
Erin's age: 3w + 4
3w + 4 = 2(w + 4)
3w + 4 = 2w + 8
3w + 4 - 2w = 2w + 8 - 2w
w + 4 = 8
w + 4 - 4 = 8 - 4
w = 4
3w = 3(4) = 12
Erin is 12 years old, and Warren is 4 years old.

John M. is brilliant and so is Bill's Spirit! And now that she has the formula and a relatively easy explanation, she will be able to complete the rest of the answers herself!
Let us know how she does, Mandi!

seems like u got more help than u needed lol brilliant :o) now i don't have to worry about the 5 step method, can jsut see the numbers in my head never know how they got there :o)

I came too late to this but I was an a student in algebra...I tutored in it for community service hours in HS....Unfortunately that was uh....16 years ago....but the easiest description seems to be Jane L if the equations confuse. As for geometry...I was horrible at that LOL!

thanks so much everyone!

felicia, you have it just the way the book wants! Yeah!! but your number 2 problem is not OUR number 2 problem! LOL! but we have those done now and thanks so much to everyone!!

Wow, my hat's off to everyone for your smarts! I'd have to dig out my books to remember any of that stuff! Now I know where to go when my son needs homework help! You all are simply amazing!

I would be absolutely no help here and I'm far to late to the party anyway, but I'd just like to say that this is a perfect example of Gatherers working together...

I hate math & often go through this with my children...lol

Try these:

http://www.freemathhelp.com/geometry.html

http://www.gomath.com/

http://www.algebra.com/geometry.mpl

Hope these help :-)