document.write( "Question 804040: The Marsh family took a vacation that was a total of 1356 miles. The return trip was 284 miles shorter than the first part of the trip. How long was the return trip? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #484564 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let $\"+a+\"$ = the 1st part of the trip
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"+b+\"$ = the 2nd part of the trip
\n" ); document.write( "--------------
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+%2B+b+=+1356+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+b+=+a+-+284+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "----------------
\n" ); document.write( "By substitution:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+%2B+a+-+284+=+1356+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2a+=+1356+%2B+284+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2a+=+1640+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+=+820+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and, since
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+b+=+a+-+284+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+b+=+820+-+284+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+b+=+536+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The return trip was 536 miles
\n" ); document.write( "check:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+a+%2B+b+=+1356+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+820+%2B+536++=+1356+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+1356+=+1356+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "OK
\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "

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