SOLUTION: This word problem is from a handout. I am a math tutor, but am so terrible at solving word problems. Can you give me any helpful advice or direction on how to get better at these??

Question 197786: This word problem is from a handout. I am a math tutor, but am so terrible at solving word problems. Can you give me any helpful advice or direction on how to get better at these???
Here is one from a student's handout sheet. I hope that I got it right, but not at all sure:
A PASSENGER PLANE FLEW TO MOSCON AND BACK. IT TOOK THREE HOURS LONGER TO GO THERE THAN IT DID TO COME BACK. THE AVERAGE SPEED ON THE TRIP THERE WAS 196 kn/h. THE AVERAGE SPEED ON THE WAY BACK WAS 280 km/h. HOW MANY HOURS DID THE TRIP THERE TAKE?
I solved it as follows:
196x = 280(x-3)
x = 10
trip to = 10 hours
trip back = 7 hours
total trip took 17 hours??????
Thank you in advance for your help.
Answer by nerdybill(7384) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Looks just fine to me.
You should identify what 'x' is though:
I.E.
Let x = time it took to fly to Moscow
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