word prob 6n+n=147

[g187play]

The larger of two numbers is 6 times the smaller. Their sum is 147.
This is my attempt:
6n+n=147
6n/6+n=147/6
n+n=24.5

I know this is not the right answer. I am lost.

 

[Loren]

The larger of two numbers is 6 times the smaller. Their sum is 147.
This is my attempt:
6n+n=147 <<< good
6n/6+n=147/6 <<<bad. Either combine 6n and n first then divide by the appropriate number or, if you insist on dividing first, you must divide all terms on both sides by 6, i.e. divide n by 6 also.
n+n=24.5

I know this is not the right answer. I am lost.

It's tough to help because you don't specify what n stands for. In my opinion that is your basic problem. I encourage you to start every word problem by naming stuff and writing it down in long hand. For instance, I would start this problem as follows...

Let x represent the larger number.
Then the smaller number is represented by 147-x. <<<This comes from the statement "Their sum is 147."
I would then use the statement "The larger of two numbers is 6 times the smaller" to write my equation.

Your equation is correct. This shows that there is more than one way to set up your equation. You have named the small number as n and the larger number as 6n which is a valid naming of your variable. You used the statement "Their sum is 147." as the basis for building your equation. Your problem is in the algebraic manipulation.

 

[Deleted member 4993]

The larger of two numbers is 6 times the smaller. Their sum is 147.
This is my attempt:
6n + n=147

6n + 1n = 147

7n = 147

n = ??


6n/6+n=147/6
n+n=24.5

I know this is not the right answer. I am lost.

 

[Denis]

6n+n=147

6 apples + 1 apple = 70 cents : how much for 1 apple?
Your problem is just as easy!