Question 641827
On a trip across the Grand Canyon in Arizona, a group traveled one-third 
the distance by mule, 6 kilometers by boat, and one-half the distance by foot.
 How long was the trip?
:
Let d = the total distance of the trip
:
d = Mule + boat + foot
d = {{{1/3}}}d + 6 + {{{1/2}}}d
multiply by 6 to clear the denominators, results
6d = 2d + 6(6) + 3d
6d = 5d + 36
6d - 5d = 36
d = 36 km trip
:
:
Check; find the distance at each stage of the trip
{{{1/3}}}(36) = 12
{{{1/2}}}(36) = 18
boat dist = 6
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total distance: 36