About Chanda Walker Expertise I can answer word problems involving mathematics at the high school and college level. I particularly enjoy calculus word problems. Please don't just type the math problem without comments. If you don't tell me what problem your having, I can't help.
Experience Have done word problems as a tutor and as a student of mathematics and physics for years.
Organizations Sigma Xi
Education/Credentials Optical Science PhD
Past/Present Clients I've answered hundreds of questions here at AllExperts.com in algebra, physics and general math sections.
Question I am trying to help my 6th grader with word problems. I am too old to remember this stuff; would you mind helping? The problem is: Samantha bought pencils and erasers for school. She bought a total of 30 items costing $3.78. If a pencil cost $0.12 and an eraser cost $0.15, how many of each did she buy?
I feel so dumb when I can't help her on math. Thank you for any help.
Answer I'm happy to help.
Let's create some variables.
p = number of pencils
e = number of erasers
p + e = 30 (the total she bought was 30 items)
p* 0.12 + e*0.15 = 3.78 (the number of pencils times their cost plus the number of eraser times their cost sums to 3.78)
Now, we can just use a little substitution and the answer will fall out.
p = 30 - e (from our first equation)
(30 - e)*0.12 + e*0.15 = 3.78 (substituted into second equation)
