SOLUTION: Jimmy caught a big fish, its head was 5 inches long. The tail was as long as the head plus hlf of the body. Its body was as long as the head plus the tail. How long is the fish?

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: Jimmy caught a big fish, its head was 5 inches long. The tail was as long as the head plus hlf of the body. Its body was as long as the head plus the tail. How long is the fish?      Log On


   

Question 100963: Jimmy caught a big fish, its head was 5 inches long. The tail was as long as the head plus hlf of the body. Its body was as long as the head plus the tail. How long is the fish?
This is not from a textbook, but from a worksheet given by the teacher.
Found 2 solutions by Nate, edjones:
Answer by Nate(3500) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
h = length of head
b = length of body
t = length of tail
h = 5
t = h + b/2 or t = 5 + b/2
b = h + t or b = 5 + t
Plug:
b = 5 + t
b = 5 + 5 + b/2
b/2 = 10
b = 20
Plug:
t = 5 + b/2
t = 5 + 20/2 = 5 + 10 = 15
5 + 20 + 15 = 40 inches

Answer by edjones(8007) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
h=5 t=h+b/2 b=h+t
.
t=5+b/2 replace h with 5 in both equations
b=5+t
.
2t=10+b multiply each side by 2.
2t=10+5+t replace b with 5+t.
t=15 subtract t from each side and combine.
.
b=5+15=20
the fish was 5+15+20=40" long
Ed