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You can put this solution on YOUR website!
\n" ); document.write( "Obviously we can't help you find the answer, since you don't show us the number line.
\n" ); document.write( "But we can tell you how YOU can find the answer....
\n" ); document.write( "I will assume that point Y is between M and J; the solution method would be different if it were not.
\n" ); document.write( "Let the given points on the number line be M = a and J = b. Then here are two ways you can solve the problem.
\n" ); document.write( "(1) Use the given ratio to determine what fraction of the distance from M to J point Y is located. Then to find the coordinate of Y, add that fraction of the distance from M to J to the coordinate of M.
\n" ); document.write( "This possible sounds confusing, but if you use this method a couple of times, it should make sense.
\n" ); document.write( "The ratio MY:YJ is 2:3. That means Y is 2/(2+3) = 2/5 of the way from M to J. So to find the coordinate of Y, add 2/5 of the distance from M to J to the coordinate of M. The distance from M to J is (b-a), so
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\n" ); document.write( "I'll pick some numbers for M and J to show a sample calculation by this method.
\n" ); document.write( "M = 7; J = 13
\n" ); document.write( "distance from M to J: 13-7 = 6
\n" ); document.write( "2/5 of the distance from M to J: (2/5)6 = 12/5 = 2.4
\n" ); document.write( "coordinate of Y: 7 + 2.4 = 9.4
\n" ); document.write( "(2) Treat the problem as a \"mixture\" problem.
\n" ); document.write( "It is harder to understand how this method works; but the required calculations are shorter. Many students like this method; but some find it too confusing.
\n" ); document.write( "Since the given ratio is 2:3, the coordinates of M and J must be \"mixed\" with 2 parts of one and 3 parts of the other. The confusing part to this method is that the ratio 2:3 means Y is closer to M than to J, so the \"mixture\" must use 3 parts of the coordinate of M and 2 parts of the coordinate of J.
\n" ); document.write( "So the calculation for the coordinate of Y is (3/5) of a plus (2/5) of b:
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\n" ); document.write( "Using this method on the same example as above, with M = 7 and J = 13, the calculation is
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\n" ); document.write( "Try both of these methods on your problem and see which \"works\" better for you.
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