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Use a Problem Solving Strategy: example 9.3 · Physics Playground

Exercises Word problems and geometry

Example 9.3 from Prealgebra, 9.1 Use a Problem Solving Strategy

Use a Problem Solving Strategy: example 9.3

Nga's car insurance premium increased by $$60,$ which was $8%$ of the original cost. What was the original cost of the premium?

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

Solution

Step 1. Read the problem. Remember, if there are words you don't understand, look them up.
Step 2. Identify what you are looking for.	the original cost of the premium
Step 3. Name. Choose a variable to represent the original cost of premium.	Let $c = the original cost$
Step 4. Translate. Restate as one sentence. Translate into an equation.
Step 5. Solve the equation.
Divide both sides by 0.08.
Simplify.	$c = 750$
Step 6. Check: Is our answer reasonable? Yes, a $750 premium on auto insurance is reasonable. Now let's check our algebra. Is 8% of 750 equal to 60?
Step 7. Answer the question.	The original cost of Nga's premium was $750.

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Pilar's rent increased by $4% .$ The increase was $$38 .$ What was the original amount of Pilar's rent?

How did it go?

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From Prealgebra (1st edition) by OpenStax (Rice University), section 9.1, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original at openstax.org. We split the solution into steps; the words, numbers and figures are the book's. OpenStax doesn't endorse this site.