Ebba Sen Pai
New member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2018
- Messages
- 18
I cannot for the life in me discover what I am doing wrong with this question. I know there are different formats and methods for finding the solution, but using the only one taught in my book I seem to be fundamentally misunderstanding something. If anyone can tell me the error of my ways I would be humbled beyond measure.
Question:
A man walks at the rate of 4 miles per hour. How far can he walk into the country and ride back on a trolley that travels at the rate of 20 miles per hour, if he must be back home 3 hours from the time he started?
My Solving Attempt:
Rate\/ Time \/ Distance \/
__________________________
Walk | 4 | 3-t | 12-4t | (I find distance by multiplying rate x time)
Trolley | 20 | t | 20t |
------------------------------
(I write as algebraic formula)
12-4t=20t (I add 4 to both sides)
12=24t (I divide both sides by 24)
0.5=t
My book says the correct answer is 10
Where have I gone so wrong?
Question:
A man walks at the rate of 4 miles per hour. How far can he walk into the country and ride back on a trolley that travels at the rate of 20 miles per hour, if he must be back home 3 hours from the time he started?
My Solving Attempt:
Rate\/ Time \/ Distance \/
__________________________
Walk | 4 | 3-t | 12-4t | (I find distance by multiplying rate x time)
Trolley | 20 | t | 20t |
------------------------------
(I write as algebraic formula)
12-4t=20t (I add 4 to both sides)
12=24t (I divide both sides by 24)
0.5=t
My book says the correct answer is 10
Where have I gone so wrong?