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Expert: Scott A Wilson - 10/26/2009


Question
A math teacher has a ream of 500 sheets of graph paper. Each week the advanced algebra class uses 90 sheets.
       a. about how many sheets are left after w weeks
       b. after how many weeks will there be 50 sheets left

Answer
a. There are 90 used per week, so that is -90w.
They start with 500, so the number of sheet left is 500 - 90w.

b.  To solve 500 - 90w = 50, add 90w - 50 to both sides.
That gives us 500 - 50 = 90w.
Combining the 500 - 50. we get 450.
So the answer is 450 = 90w.
Dividing by 90 gives us 450/90 = 5 and 90w/90 = w, so we have 5 = w.

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Scott A Wilson

Expertise

Story problems with any relation to math.

Experience

I started doing story problems in grade school and have been helping people ever since.

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In over 700 questions answered to other users. Maybe you're the next one ...

Education/Credentials
BA in Mathematical Sciences from OSU. MS in Mathematics from OSU

Awards and Honors
Both my BS and MS degree were with honors.

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Students at OSU in the 80's and over 7000 questions right here, but only around 1/10th of those have been word problems.

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