Question

Sandy and suzanne are planting flower pots around the school. Sandy has planted 33 pots and is planting at the rate of 10 pots per hour. suzanne has planted 25 pots and is planting at the rate of 14 pots per hour. In how many hours will they have the same number of pots?

Answer 1

If you would like to know in how many hours will they have the same number of pots, you can calculate this using the following steps:

t ... the number of hours
Sandy: 33 + 10 * t
Suzanne: 25 + 14 * t

33 + 10 * t = 25 + 14 * t
33 - 25 = 14 * t - 10 * t
8 = 4 * t /4
t = 8 / 4
t = 2 hours

Sandy and Suzanne will have the same number of pots in 2 hours.

Answer 2

Given:
Let x be the number of hours
Sandy : 33 + 10x
Suzanne : 25 + 14x

33 + 10x = 25 + 14x
10x - 14x = 25 - 33
-4x = -8
x = -8/-4
x = 2

Sandy: 33 + 10(2) = 33 + 20 = 53
Suzanne: 25 + 14(2) = 25 + 28 = 53

It will take 2 hours for SAndy and Suzanne to have the same number of pots.