SOLUTION: I'm am really not sure where to begin to solve this problem. I know that I should set one side of the equation to 6 1/2. The question is: In her Job at the post office, Janie wo

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: I'm am really not sure where to begin to solve this problem. I know that I should set one side of the equation to 6 1/2. The question is: In her Job at the post office, Janie wo      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 1051628: I'm am really not sure where to begin to solve this problem. I know that I should set one side of the equation to 6 1/2. The question is:
In her Job at the post office, Janie works a 6 1/2 hour day. She sorts mail, sells stamps, and does supervisory work. On one day, she sold stamps twice as long as she sorted mail, and sold stamps 1 hour longer that the time she spent doing supervisory work. How many hours did she spend at each task?

Found 2 solutions by Boreal, josmiceli:
Answer by Boreal(15235) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
sell stamps=x hours
sorted mail is 1/2*x, half as long
supervisory work is x-1
They add to 6.5
x+0.5x+x-1=6.5
2.5x-1=6.5
2.5x=7.5
x=3 hours (sell stamps)
sorted mail is 1.5 hours, or half of 3.
supervisory work was 2 hours, or x-1
They add to 6.5 hours

Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are 3 unknowns:
(1) Number of hrs spent sorting mail = +a+
(2) Number of hrs spent selling stamps = +b+
(3) Number of hrs spent doing supervisory work = +c+
---------------------
You need 3 equation in order to find 3 unknowns
given:
(1) +a+%2B+b+%2B+c+=+6.5+
(2) +b+=+2a+
(3) +b+=+c+%2B+1+
----------------------
(2) +a+=+b%2F2+
and
(3) +c+=+b+-+1+
Substitute 92) and (3) into (1)
(1) +b%2F2+%2B+b+%2B+b+-+1+=+6.5+
(1) +b%2F2+%2B+2b+=+7.5+
Multiply both sides by +2+
(1) +b+%2B+4b+=+15+
(1) +5b+=+15+
(1) +b+=+3+
and
(2) +a+=+b%2F2+
(2) +a+=+1.5+
and
(3) +c+=+b+-+1+
(3) +c+=+3+-+1+
(3) +c+=+2+
---------------------
She spent 1.5 hrs sorting mail,
3 hrs selling stamps, and 2 hrs
doing supervisory work
------------------------------
check:
(1) +a+%2B+b+%2B+c+=+6.5+
(1) +1.5+%2B+3+%2B+2+=+6.5+
(1) +6.5+=+6.5+
You can check (2) and (3)