Answer:
The distance between Bert and Ernie's apartments from Big Bird's nest
is 21 miles
Step-by-step explanation:
* Lets change the story problem to an equation to solve the problem
- The information i the story problem is
# The Big Bird's nest is halfway from there apartments
# The distance between Bert's apartment and Big Bird's nest is (5x + 4)
# The distance between Ernie's apartment and Big Bird's nest is (15x - 30)
* Now lets solve
∵ The Big Bird's nest is halfway from there apartments
∴ The distance between Bert's apartment and Big Bird's nest = The
distance between Ernie's apartment and Big Bird's nest
∴ 5x + 4 = 15x - 30
- Collect the variable terms in one side and the numerical terms
in th other side
∴ 15x - 5x = 30 + 4 ⇒ add
∴ 10x = 34
∴ x = 34 ÷ 10 = 3.4
* Now lets find the distance between Bert and Ernie's apartments
from the Big Bird's nest
- We can use any relation to find the distance
∵ The distance = 5x + 4
∵ x = 3.4
∴ The distance = 5(3.4) + 4 = 17 + 4 = 21 miles
You can check the answer by using second equation
∵ The distance = 15x - 30
∵ x = 3.4
∴ The distance = 15(3.4) - 30 = 51 - 30 = 21 miles
