Question

Write the following in 6th graders response

Define the variable.
Let x represent the number of days after Student J starts reading.
2 Express the number of pages read by
Student J.
Student J reads 20 pages per day. So, after x days, Student J has read 20x pages.
Express the number of pages read by Student K.
Student K starts reading 2 days after Student J and reads 30 pages per day.
Therefore, in x days (since Student J started), Student K has been reading for
x - 2 days. The total number of pages read by Student K is 30(x - 2)


Set up the equation.
To find when both students have read the same number of pages, we set the expressions for the number of pages read by each student equal to each other:
20x = 30(x - 2)
5 Solve the equation for x.
First, distribute the 30 on the right side of the equation:
20x = 30x - 60
6
Isolate the x term.
Subtract 30x from both sides of the equation:
20x - 30x = -60
-10x = -60
7
Solve for x.
Divide both sides by -10:
-60
x =
-10
X=6

Answer 1

1. Define the variable.
Let x = the number of days after Student J starts reading.

2. Pages Student J reads.
Student J reads 20 pages each day, so after x days J has read 20x pages.

3. Pages Student K reads.
Student K starts 2 days later, so K reads for (x − 2) days. K reads 30 pages each day, so K has read 30(x − 2) pages.

4. Set up the equation.
To find when they have read the same number of pages, set the two expressions equal:
20x = 30(x − 2)

5. Solve the equation.
Distribute on the right: 20x = 30x − 60
Subtract 30x from both sides: 20x − 30x = −60 → −10x = −60
Divide by −10: x = 6

6. Answer and check.
x = 6 means 6 days after Student J starts.
Pages J read: 20 × 6 = 120
Pages K read: 30 × (6 − 2) = 30 × 4 = 120
So after 6 days they have both read 120 pages.