Algebra Tutorial

Rate problems
Rate problems use a simple formua:
Distance traveled d = r x t
Where r is the rate ,in this case speed in miles per hour or km per
hour or meters/second or similar units. [distance/time]

There are other rate problems too. Volume flow rate is the rate of pouring a
liquid In this case ,rate is = gallons per minute or similar units.
An important rate is labor rate: how much work is done per hour.
Let us see a few examples. {see my other article: “Algebra tutorial –rate
problems” –also in Scribd.com }

1 John drives his car for 4 hours at 55 miles per hour. The car gives give 22
miles per gallon of gas.
What is the distance he travels? How much he spends for gas if it costs
$4.5 per gallon ?
We are going to use three rates given in the problem.
Step1 distance traveled ; d = speed x time
= 55 x 4 = 220 miles.

Step2 gasoline consumed: v = fuel rate x distance

= (1 gallon/22) x 220 miles
= 220 / 22 = 10 gallons

Step 3 Cost of gasoline C= (cost/gallon) x volume

= 4.5 x 10 = $ 45
Keep track of the units used: first miles,
then gallons and then dollars in the results.

2 John and Mike start from Sacromento and from San Jose at the same
time towards each other. John drives his car at 50 mph [miles per hour]
while Mike drives at 60 mph. The distance from Sacromento to San Jose
is 440 miles.
When will they meet? At what distance from San Jose?

Let t be the time when both meet .Since they start at the same time, the time
traveled by both is the same t hours.
John travels x miles. Mike drives y miles.
Since they travel towards each other, X + Y = 440
Distance traveled by John = X = 50 x t
Distance traveled by Mike = Y= 60 x t

1
 X + Y = 440
50 t + 60 t = 440
110 t = 440
t = 4 hours.
Mike travels from San Jose.he has traveled = 60 x4
=240 miles.
They meet each other after 4 hours, at a distance of 240 miles from San
Jose.

14. John and Alex start from the same place in Los Angeles, but at different
times. John starts at 6 AM and drives his motorbike at 50 mph. Alex
starts at 9 Am, goes in the same route as John. To catch John, Alex
drives his motorbike at a speed of 65 mph. When will Alex meet John and
at what distance from the starting point.?
First understand the problem. John starts first and travels for t
hours. Alex travels for lesser time since he starts at 9 AM, three hours behind.
So, Alex travels for ( t -3 ) hours.
Distance traveled by John d = 50 x t miles.
If Alex catches with him ,he travels the same distance d ;but he travels for
shorter time but at higher speed.
Distance traveled by Alex = d = 65 ( t – 3)
Now we can equate the two equations: d = 50 t = 65 ( t -3)
Or 50 t = 65 t – 195 [Using distributive property]
50 t – 65 t = 65t – 65 t – 195
- 15 t = -195
t = 195/15 = 13 hours.
The distance traveled d = 50 x t = 50 x 13 = 650 miles.
Aled travels for 10 hours at 65 mph : d =65x10 = 650 miles.

15.A tiger sees a deer at a distance of 500 meters. The deer is running away
from the tiger at speed of 200 meters per minute. The tiger sprints towards
the deer at the speed of 300 ,meters per minute. Tigers have a limitation; they
can sprint only for 1.5 minutes and then have to stop to get the breath. Can
the tiger catch the deer?
Distance traveled by the deer= 200 x t
Distance from the tiger to the deer = d = 500 + 200t
Distance the tiger moves in time t = x = 300 t
If the tiger should catch the deer , d =x
Or 500 + 200 t = 300 t
Let us solve for t : 500 = 300 t – 200t
500 = 100t
or t = 5minutes.
Tiger cannot catch the deer, since it will go out of breath by 1.5 minutes. The
deer is safe for now!.

2
16 John can do the painting job for a house in 6 days. Mike can do the same
job in 5 days. In how many days they can do the job if they work
together?
Let us find the rate at which they work;
John does 1/ 6 th of work in one day.
Mike does 1/5th of work in one day.
If they work together , their combined rate R = 1/6 + 1/5 = (5 + 6)/30 work in
a day.
To find the number of days the work will take: W = rate x time
Take w =1 then 1 = (11/30 ) x time
Time = 30/11 = 2.8 days or nearly 3 days.
[It is wrong to take the average of the two values of 6 and 5 days, giving 5.5
days.]