SOLUTION: Jim drove a total of 200 miles on a trip to visit his parents. The return route was 8 miles longer than the route he took on the way to his parents house. How many miles did Jim

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Question 1057508: Jim drove a total of 200 miles on a trip to visit his parents. The return route was 8 miles longer than the route he took on the way to his parents house. How many miles did Jim drive on the way to his parent�s house?

Found 2 solutions by solve_for_x, ikleyn:
Answer by solve_for_x(190) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x represent the length of the route on the initial leg of the journey.

The return trip, since it was 8 miles longer, can be represented by x + 8.

Then, since the total distance traveled is 200 miles, we can write the following
equation:

x + (x + 8) = 200

Collecting the x terms on the left side gives:

2x + 8 = 200

Subtracting 8 from both sides leaves:

2x = 192

Dividing by 2 then leaves:

x = 96

Thus, the trip TO his parent's house was 96 miles long.

Answer by ikleyn(52775) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Jim drove a total of 200 miles on a trip to visit his parents. The return route was 8 miles longer than the route he took
on the way to his parents house. How many miles did Jim drive on the way to his parent�s house?
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If you are familiar with systems of linear equations, it might be useful/interesting to you to know another approach.

Let "x" be the length of the way "to there" (in miles) and "y" be the length of the way back. Then y + x = 200, y - x = 8. Add the two equations (both sides). You will get 2y = 200+8 ---> 2y = 208 ---> y = = 104. Then x = y - 8 = 104-8 = 96. Answer. 96 miles "to there" and 104 miles back.