Question

Ricardo and Kim rowed their canoes from their base camp to a fishing camp. They rowed a distance of x miles upstream on one river, (3x2 − 9) miles downstream on another river, and (2x + 9) miles across a calm lake. Which expression is equivalent to the total distance, in miles, Ricardo and Kim rowed their canoes?

I dont understand how to solve this.

Answer 1

(3x2-9) + (2x+9) =X

This is how you put the equation together

Answer 2

The required expression is 3x²+ 3x.

Explanation:

It is given that Ricardo and Kim rowed their canoes from their base camp to a fishing camp.

They rowed a distance of x miles upstream on one river, (3x²-9) miles downstream on another river, and (2x + 9) miles across a calm lake.

Distance covered in upstream = x miles

Distance covered in downstream = (3x²-9) miles

Distance covered in calm lake = (2x+9) miles

Total distance covered by Ricardo and Kim is

`D=x+(3x^2-9)+(2x+9)`

On combining like terms we get

`D=3x^2+(x+2x)+(-9+9)`

`D=3x^2+3x+0`

`D=3x^2+3x`

Therefore the required expression is 3x²+ 3x.