You are here:

Calculus/Pre calculus help- word problem

Advertisement

Expert: - 12/19/2008


Question
If p pods could create 7 seedlings in 120 minutes, how many minutes would it take 3 more pods to make z seedlings?
I know this is a RWT problem and I think the answer is an equation, but I'm not sure what to plug in.
Thanks for your help.

Answer
If p pods (a variable P) could create 7 seedlings (a variable S) in 120 minutes (a time T), how many minutes would it take 3 more pods (P+3) to make z seedlings?

I will assume that TP = KS, where K is a constant.
We have 120P = 7K.

Divide both sides by P to solve for the 120 (time).

You need to divide the left side by the number of pods we have and multiply by the new number.  This means we need to multiply the left side by (P+3)/P, since we have 3 more pods.

Since this is the time it takes to make 7 seedlings, but we want the time it takes to make z seedling, multiply the left side by z/7.  

Calculus

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Scotto

Expertise

Any kind of calculus question you want. I also have answered some questions in Physics (mass, momentum, falling bodies), Chemistry (charge, reactions, symbols, molecules), and Biology.

Experience

Experience in the area: I have tutored students in all areas of mathematics for over 25 years. Education/Credentials: BSand MS in Mathematics from Oregon State University, where I completed sophomore course in Physics and Chemistry. I received both degrees with high honors. Awards and Honors: I have passed Actuarial tests 100, 110, and 135.

Publications
Maybe not a publication, but I have respond to well oveer 7,500 questions on the PC. Well over 2,000 of them have been in calculus.

Education/Credentials
I aquired well over 40 hours of upper division courses. This was well over the number that were required. I graduated with honors in both my BS and MS degree from Oregon State University. I was allowed to jump into a few junior level courses my sophomore year.

Awards and Honors
I have been nominated as the expert of the month several times. All of my scores right now are at least a 9.8 average (out of 10).

Past/Present Clients
My past clients have been students at OSU, students at the college in South Seattle, referals from a company, friends and aquantenances, people from my church, and people like you from all over the world.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.