CETR - Algebra

SESSION 4
WORD PROBLEMS
76) The volume of a cone can be solved using this
#$ ! %
equation: 𝑉 =
&
If the height was reduced to one-eight of the
original, the radius should be ____ to double the
volume. Solution:
Height is reduced to one-eight of the original means multiply ℎ by 1/8.
"# &$ &"# &$
A. halved Doubling the volume means 2𝑉 = 2 %
%
=
%

B. doubled Use the choices to replace 𝑟 then check which will produce the
&"# &$
desired expression .
C. quadrupled %

D. Multiplied by 16 Correct answer: replace 𝑟 with 4𝑟, and ℎ with :

$
'

&ℎ
𝜋 4𝑟 & &
8 = 𝜋 % 16𝑟 ℎ = 2𝜋𝑟 ℎ
3 3%8 3
77) The length of a room is 8 feet greater than its
width. If each dimension is increased by 2 feet,
the area will be increased by 60 square feet. Find
the area of the room.
Solution: L is length; W is width; A is area
A. 65 square feet 𝐿 =𝑊+8 and 𝐴 = 𝐿𝑊
If each dimension is increased by 2 ft, the area will increase by 60 sq
B. 105 square feet ft.
𝐿 + 2 𝑊 + 2 = 𝐿𝑊 + 60
C. 153 square feet 𝐿𝑊 + 2𝐿 + 2𝑊 + 4 = 𝐿𝑊 + 60
It follows that
D. 180 square feet 2𝐿 + 2𝑊 + 4 = 60
Since 𝐿 = 𝑊 + 8, we get
2 𝑊 + 8 + 2𝑤 + 4 = 60
Solve for 𝑊,
4𝑊 + 20 = 60
𝑊 = 10
Solve for 𝐿 given 𝑊 = 10,
𝐿 = 10 + 8 = 18
Area is 𝐴 = 10 % 18 = 180 sq ft
78) A patient must take his medication every 7 hours
starting at 7am, Sunday. On what day will the
patient first receive his medication at 6pm?
Solution:
A. Monday Use patterns, just add 7 hours starting 7am

B. Tuesday 7am 14pm 21pm 28am 35am 42pm

Sun Sun, 2pm Sun, 9pm Mon, 4am Mon, 1pm Mon, 6pm
C. Wednesday
D. Thursday
79) Thrice the larger of two numbers is five more
than five times the smaller, and the sum of six
times the larger and five times the smaller is 265.
What is the large number?
Solution:
A. 44 Let 𝑋 and 𝑌 are the two numbers, and 𝑋 > 𝑌.

B. 40 3𝑋 = 5𝑌 + 5
6𝑋 + 5𝑌 = 265
C. 30
Solve the system (using substitution, 5𝑌 = 3𝑋 − 5)
D. 27 6𝑋 + 3𝑋 − 5 = 265
9𝑋 = 270
𝑋 = 30
80) Pedro can finish painting a wall in 6 hours. Juan
can finish painting the same wall in 3 hours. How
long will it take them to finish painting the wall
together? Solution:
Working equation for basic work problem is
1 1 1
A. 2 + =
𝑥 𝑦 𝑧
B. 3 Where
𝑥 is the time person A can finish the job alone;
C. 1 𝑦 is the time person B can finish the job alone; and
𝑧 is the time persons A and B can finish the job working together.
D. 2.5
To solve for 𝑥, 𝑦, or 𝑧, you may use these formulas:
𝑥𝑦 −𝑦𝑧 −𝑥𝑧
𝑧= 𝑥= 𝑦=
𝑥+𝑦 𝑧−𝑦 𝑧−𝑥
Based on the problem, the unknown is 𝑧:
1 1 1
+ =
6 3 𝑧
()% +'
Solving for 𝑧 we get: 𝑧 = = =2
(*% ,
81) Five accountants working at 6 hours a day can
finish checking ledgers in 14 days. How long will it
take 3 accountants to do the same job when each is
working 8 hours a day?
Solution:
A. 21/2 days This is an INVERSE proportion problem: Increasing/decreasing the
number of accountants and the number of working hours causes a
B. 70/2 days proportional decrease/increase in the number of days to finish a
job.
C. 35/2 days 𝑥+ % 𝑦+ % 𝑧+ = 𝑥& % 𝑦& % 𝑧&
5 6 (14) = (3)(8)(𝑧& )
D. 35 days
Solve for 𝑧&
(5)(6)(14) 35
𝑧& = =
(3)(8) 2
82) I have 13 cats. They can finish a bag of
catfood in 1 and a half weeks. How long will a
bag of cat food last if I adopt 5 more cats?
Solution:
A. 1/12 weeks This is an INVERSE proportion problem: Increasing the number of
cats causes a proportional decrease in time to finish a bag of
B. 13/12 weeks catfood.
𝑥+ % 𝑦+ = 𝑥& % 𝑦&
C. 12/13 weeks 13 1.5 = (13 + 5)(𝑦& )

D. 1/13 weeks Solve for 𝑦&

(13)(3/2) (13)(3) 13
𝑦& = = =
(13 + 5) (18)(2) 12
83) Three encoders can finish 4 jobs each in a
day. How many jobs can be done by 6
encoders in 2 days?
Solution:
A. 16 This is a DIRECT proportion problem: Increasing the number of
encoders causes a proportional increase in the number of jobs
B. 32 done per day.
𝑥+ 𝑥&
=
C. 48 𝑦+ 𝑦&
3 6
D. 64 =
12 𝑦&

Solve for 𝑦&

(6)(12)
𝑦& = = 24 jobs in one day
(3)

In two days, 6 encoders can do 48 jobs.

84) Suppose that 48 workers can build a tower in 60
days. How many more workers should be hired so
that the tower can be finished 24 days earlier?
Solution:
A. 32 This is an INVERSE proportion problem: Increasing the number of
workers causes a proportional decrease in # of days to build a
B. 54 tower.
𝑥+ % 𝑦+ = 𝑥& % 𝑦&
C. 80 48 60 = (48 + 𝑥& )(60 − 24)

D. 120 Solve for 𝑥&

(48)(60)
𝑥& = − 48
(60 − 24)

48 60
= − 48
36

= 32
85) Kaye is 24 years old. Her cousin, Pia, is 9
years old. In how many years will Kaye be
double Pia’s age?
Solution:
A. 6 Age now Age in 𝑥 years from now
B. 8 Kaye 24 24 + 𝑥
Pia 9 9+𝑥
C. 4
D. 10 Solve for 𝑥 in the equation describing the year when Kaye’s age is
twice Pia’s
24 + 𝑥 = 2(9 + 𝑥)
24 + 𝑥 = 18 + 2𝑥
6=𝑥

6 years from now, Kaye is 30 while Pia is 15.

86) Uncle Lorenzo is 7 times as old as Pipo. In 4
years, he will be 5 times as old as Pipo. What
will be Uncle Lorenzo’s age next year?
Solution:
A. 56 Age now Age 4 years from now
B. 57 Uncle Lorenzo 7𝑥 7𝑥 + 4
Pipo 𝑥 𝑥+4
C. 60
D. 64 Solve for 𝑥 in the equation describing their ages 4 years from now
when Uncle Lorenzo’s age is 5 times as Pipo’s
7𝑥 + 4 = 5(𝑥 + 4)
7𝑥 + 4 = 5𝑥 + 20
2𝑥 = 16
𝑥 = 8 (age of Pipo now)

Uncle Lorenzo’s age now is 7(8) or 56. Next year, he is 57 yrs old.
87) A tank contains 9000 liters of a solution that
is 30% acid. How much water should be
added to make a solution that is 20% acid?
Solution: since water is added to an acid solution to dilute it, make
A. 3000 liters an equation describing the amount of water in the initial and final
acid solution.
B. 4500 liters Initial
Water added Final (result)
(original)
C. 5000 liters
% water 0.7 1 0.8
D. 5500 liters # liters 9000 𝑥 9000 + 𝑥
multiply 0.7(9000) 𝑥 0.8(9000 + 𝑥)

Make an equation based on the last row of the table, then solve for 𝑥:
0.7 9000 + 𝑥 = 0.8(9000 + 𝑥)
6300 + 𝑥 = 7200 + 0.8𝑥
0.2𝑥 = 900
𝑥 = 4500
88) Nicky wanted to mix 5 liters of a drink that was
10% sugar with a drink that was 50% sugar to
make a drink that was 25% sugar. How many liters
of the 50% sugar drink must he add to get the
25% sugar drink? Solution: A drink that is 50% sugar is added to a drink that is 10%
sugar to increase the sugar to 25%
Initial sugar solution
Final (result)
(original) added
A. 2 % sugar 0.1 0.5 0.25
B. 5 # liters 5 𝑥 5+𝑥

C. 4 multiply 0.1(5) 0.5𝑥 0.25(5 + 𝑥)

Make an equation based on the last row of the table, then solve for 𝑥:
D. 3 0.1 5 + 0.5𝑥 = 0.25(5 + 𝑥)
Multiply both sides by 100
10(5) + 50𝑥 = 125 + 25𝑥
25𝑥 = 75
𝑥=3
89) How many mL of a 10% brine solution is
needed to mix with a 50% brine solution to
produce 800 mL solution that is 20% brine?
Solution: A solution that is 10% brine is added to a
solution that is 50% sugar to reduce it to 20% brine
A. 200 mL
Initial Brine solution
Final (result)
B. 300 mL (original) added
% brine 0.5 0.1 0.2
C. 500 mL
# liters 800 − 𝑥 𝑥 800
D. 600 mL multiply 0.5(800 − 𝑥) 0.1𝑥 0.2 (800)

Make an equation based on the last row of the table, then solve for 𝑥:
0.5 800 − 𝑥 + 0.1𝑥 = 0.2(800)
Multiply both sides by 10
5(800 − 𝑥) + 𝑥 = 2(800)
4000 − 5𝑥 + 𝑥 = 1600
4𝑥 = 2400
𝑥 = 600
90) Five students like Math alone. Eleven students
like Science alone. Thirteen students like both
Math and Science. If there are 50 students in the
class, what percent of the class likes Math?
Solution: use Venn diagram
A. 10%
B. 16%
C. 18% 5 13 11

D. 36%
Math Science

>*+%
% of students who like Math = >?
×100 = 36%
91) Forty-two students in a class are female. If
72% of the class are male, how many
students are there in the class?
A. 28 Solution: Since 72% of the class are male, then 28% are
female and 42 corresponds to 28% of the total number
B. 58 of students in the class.

C. 120 Let 𝑥 be the total number of students in the class

D. 150 We know that 28% of 𝑥 is 42, solve for 𝑥.

0.28𝑥 = 42
Multiply both sides by 100
28𝑥 = 4200
𝑥 = 150
92) Twenty-five more girls than 2/3 the number of
boys participate in interscholastic sports at a local
high school. If the number of girls participating is
105, how many boys participate?
A. 110 Solution:
Let 𝑥 be the number of boys participating
B. 115 Translate the statement into an equation, then solve
for 𝑥
C. 120 &
105 = 𝑥 + 25
%
Multiply both sides by 3
D. 125 315 = 2𝑥 + 75
𝑥 = 120
93) Car A heads north at 45 kph. Exactly 12 minutes
after, car B follows at a steady speed of 54 kph.
How long does it take for car B to overtake car A?
A. 3 hours Solution: At the time when Car B overtakes Car A, they
must have the same distance travelled. Use 𝒅 = 𝒓𝒕.
B. 2 hours 𝑑@ = 45 𝑡 + 12
𝑑A = 54𝑡
C. 1 hour
Equate 𝑑@ and 𝑑A , then solve for 𝑡
D. 1.5 hours 45(𝑡 + 12) = 54𝑡
9𝑡 = 540
𝑡 = 60 minutes
94) Two runners started running from the same area.
Runner A ran with a speed of 3 m/s, and runner B
ran with a speed of 5 m/s. By how many meters
does runner B lead after 15 seconds?
A. 15 Solution: find the difference between the distance
travelled after 15 seconds. Use 𝒅 = 𝒓𝒕.
B. 25 𝑑@ = 3 15 = 45𝑚
𝑑A = 5 15 = 75𝑚
C. 11.5
𝑑A − 𝑑@ = 30𝑚
D. 30
95) Rita is selling concert tickets. She sold 4 to her
cousins, then gave half of what she had left to her
brother for him to sell. She sold twelve more to
her friends and had 15 tickets left to sell. How
many tickets did she have in all?
Solution 1: Let 𝑥 be the number of tickets Rita have at
the start. Solve for 𝑥.
A. 57 𝑥−4
− 12 = 15
2
B. 58 𝑥 − 4 − 24 = 30
𝑥 − 28 = 30
C. 59 𝑥 = 58
Solution 2: Start with the number of tickets left (15)
D. 60 then work backwards:
15 + 12 = 27
27×2 = 54
54 + 4 = 58
96) Jane had only 100 candies after giving some of
them to her playmates. She gave one-sixth to
Catherine, two-fifths to Farah, and 4 pieces to
Wendy. How many candies did Jane originally
have? Solution 1: Let 𝑥 be the number of tickets Rita have at
the start. Solve for 𝑥.
A. 250 1 2
𝑥 1 − − − 4 = 100
6 5
B. 240 13
𝑥 − 4 = 100
C. 210 30
13𝑥 − 120 = 3000
13𝑥 = 3120
D. 150 𝑥 = 240
Solution 2: Start with the number of candies left (100)
then work backwards:
100 + 4 = 104
30
104× = 240
13
97) Karen has been collecting and saving 25-
centavo and 1-peso coins. When she counted
her coins, she found out that she has 128
coins which amount to 86 pesos. How many
of each kind of coins does she have?
Solution: Solve the equations simultaneously
A. 72 25-cents and 56 1-peso coins Let 𝑥 be the number of 25-centavo coins
Let 𝑦 be the number of 1-peso coins
B. 82 25-cents and 46 1-peso coins Eqn 1: 0.25𝑥 + 𝑦 = 86
Eqn2: 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 128
C. 56 25-cents and 72 1-peso coins
Subract Eqn 1 from Eqn 2:
D. 46 25-cents and 82 1-peso coins 0.75𝑥 = 42
E. 50 25-cents and 78 1-peso coins Multiply both sides by 100
75𝑥 = 4200
𝑥 = 56
Solve for 𝑦 given 𝑥 = 56: 𝑦 = 128 − 56 = 72
98) Noong nakaraang limang taon, ang edad ni Ana
ay pitong beses ng edad ng kanyang anak.
Sampung taon mula ngayon, ang edad niya ay
doble ng edad ng kanyang anak. Ano ang kanilang
edad sa kasalukuyan? Solution:
Age 5 yrs go Age now Age 10 years from now
A. Ana = 26; anak = 8 Ana 7𝑥 7𝑥+5 7𝑥 + 15
B. Ana = 40; anak = 14 Anak 𝑥 𝑥+5 𝑥 + 15

C. Ana = 51; anak = 18 Solve for 𝑥 in the equation describing their ages 10 years from now
when Ana’s age is double her child’s
D. Ana = 24; anak = 7 7𝑥 + 15 = 2(𝑥 + 15)
7𝑥 + 15 = 2𝑥 + 30
E. Ana = 32; anak = 10 5𝑥 = 15
𝑥=3

Ana’s age now is 7(3) + 5 = 26

Ana’s child age now is 3 + 5 = 8
99) Working together, May and Che can finish a
project in 6 hours. After 3 hours of working
together, May has to leave Che because of an
unexpected date. It takes Che 9 hours to finish
the remaining job alone. How long will it take
each of them to finish the job alone?
A. Che = 18 hours; May = 9 hours Solution: It is given that Che takes 9 hours to do half of the
job alone. Therefore, it would take Che 18 hours to finish the
B. Che = 20 hours; May = 10 hours job alone.

C. Che = 9 hours; May = 18 hours To determine how long May can finish the job alone, solve
the following equation
D. Che = 10 hours; May = 20 hours 1 1 1
+ =
18 𝑦 6
E. Che = 15 hours; May = 15 hours
−18 % 6 −18 % 6
𝑦= = =9
(6 − 18) −12
100) A rowing team is competing on a river flowing
15 ft/s. If they are traveling upstream, at what
speed must they row relative to the flowing water
if they want to beat the 20 ft mark in 1 minute?
Solution: Use 𝑑 = 𝑟𝑡 and consider the fact that traveling
A. 15 2/3 ft/s upstream means going against the current, making your
speed slower.
B. 16 1/3 ft/s
C. 16 2/3 ft/s Let 𝑑 = 20 ft; 𝑡 = 60 seconds

D. 15 1/3 ft/s Solve for 𝑟:

𝑑 = 𝑟 − 150 𝑡
E. none of the above 20 = 𝑟 − 15 60
20
= 𝑟 − 15
60
1
+ 15 = 𝑟
3