SOLUTION: The Pappas family has two cats, Zeus and Athena. Together they weigh twelve pounds. Zeus weighs 4 pounds less than Athena. How much does Athena weigh? Write an algebraic equatio

Algebra.Com
Question 1202446: The Pappas family has two cats, Zeus and Athena. Together they weigh twelve pounds. Zeus weighs 4 pounds less than Athena. How much does Athena weigh?
Write an algebraic equation that represents the situation.
Use a for your variable.
Athena weighs pounds.
Found 2 solutions by ikleyn, josgarithmetic:
Answer by ikleyn(52778)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

    a + (a-4) = 12

    2a - 4 = 12

    2a = 12 + 4

    2a = 16

     a = 16/2 = 8.


ANSWER.  Athena weights 8 pounds.

Solved and presented in a form of a mantra to repeat it
many times again and again for any other similar problem.


//////////////////////////


It always touches me when I see a request "solve the problem by introducing variables in such and such a way."
Then I think where these people fell from.


Real teachers usually avoid to give instructions in Math at such micro-managing level.
Micro-managing in Math is the way to create a generations of students who will hate Math.



Answer by josgarithmetic(39617)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Zeus                  x-4

Athena                 x

COMBINED              12

With that, should become both obvious and simple.
RELATED QUESTIONS

greg weighs 15 pounds less than twice what karen weighs and sue weighs 10 pounds more... (answered by jorel1380)
John weighs 65 pounds more than Mike. Together, they weigh 505 pounds. How much does each (answered by josmiceli)
Kyle weighs twice as much as his younger sister Suzanne and 10 pounds less than his older (answered by ichudov)
Klye weighs twice as much as his younger sister Suzanne and 10 pounds less than his older (answered by Deina)
Greg weighs fifteen pounds less than twice what Karen weighs and Olivia weighs ten pounds (answered by rfer)
Every year, the Parker brothers get together. The combined weight of the Parker brothers... (answered by JulietG)
Translate the following situation into an inequality. Do not solve. “Greg weighs... (answered by mananth)
Translate the following situation into an inequality. Do not solve. “Greg weighs... (answered by IWork4Dessert)
I need help with this word problem please Translate the following situation into an... (answered by Theo)