Question

Janet enjoys reading books, and reads an average of 4 books a month. Janet's younger brother, Alex waited for a month before deciding he liked reading, and also reads at an average of 4 books a month. If m represents the number of months Janet has been reading books, the equation 4m=4(m−1) represents the situation where Alex and Janet have read the same number of books.

Solve the equation to find the number of months it will take for Alex and Janet to have read the same number of books. Show your work.

Answer 1

Answer: They will never have read the same number of books

Explanation:

4(m-1) will always be less than 4m no matter what.

Answer 2

No solution

Explanation:

4m = 4(m - 1)

Distribute;

4m = 4m - 4

Subtract 4m from both sides;

0 ≠ -4

No months because Alex cannot catch up to Janet since they both read the same amount of books per month.