a) 17 is the total amount ran 5 is the number of miles x is the hours (which is unknown) you have to find x. the problem says that there are 5 miles per hour so your x would go with your 5. the 17 stays on the opposite side of the = 17=5x
b) to find the amount of time (x) just solve for x 17=5x is your equation you now have to isolate the x (do this by dividing 5 on both sides of the equation) 5/x= x alone 17/5=3.4 3.4=x * remember that x is hours in this problem, so round if you need too
