184 Chapter 2 Linear Equations and Inequalities Applications of Linear Equations: Introduction to Problem Solving Section 2.4 Key Concepts Problem-Solving Steps for Word Problems: 1. Read the problem carefully. 2. Assign labels to unknown quantities. 3. Write a verbal model. 4. Write a mathematical equation. 5. Solve the equation. 6. Interpret the results and write the answer in words. Examples Example 1 The perimeter of a triangle is 54 m. The lengths of the sides are represented by three consecutive even integers. Find the lengths of the three sides. 1. Read the problem. 2. Let x represent one side, x 2 represent the second side, and represent the third side. x 2 x 4 x 4 x 3. (First side) (second side) (third side) perimeter 4. 5. x 1x 22 1x 42 54 3x 6 54 3x 48 x 16 6. x 16 represents the length of the shortest side. The lengths of the other sides are given by x 2 18 x 4 20 and . The lengths of the three sides are 16 m, 18 m, and 20 m.
miller_beginning_intermediate_algebra_4e_ch1_3
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