Question

Nate and Maya are building model cars. Maya's car is 3 inches less than 2 times the length of Nate's car. The sum of the lengths of both cars is 26 inches. Write an equation to determine the lengths of Nate's and Maya's cars.

x + 3 − 2x = 26
x + 2x = 26
2x − 3 = 26
x + 2x − 3 = 26

Answer 1

d) x + 2x - 3 = 26

Explanation:

Given that,

→ Maya's car is 3 inches less than 2 times the length of Nate's car.

→ The sum of the lengths of both cars is 26 inches.

Now the equation will be,

→ x - 3 + 2x = 26

→ x + 2x - 3 = 26

→ 3x = 29

Hence, option (d) is correct answer.

Answer 2

x + 2x - 3 = 26

Explanation:

Define the variables:

• Let x = length of Nate's car.
• Let y = length of Maya's car.

If Maya's car is 3 inches less than 2 times the length of Nate's car, then:

⇒ y = 2x - 3

If the sum of the lengths of both cars is 26 inches, then:

⇒ x + y = 26

Substitute the found expression for y into the equation:

⇒ x + y = 26

⇒ x + (2x - 3) = 26

⇒ x + 2x - 3 = 26

Therefore, the equation to determine the lengths of Nate'a and Maya's cars is:

`\boxed{x + 2x - 3 = 26}`

Solving the equation for x

⇒ x + 2x - 3 = 26

⇒ 3x - 3 = 26

⇒ 3x - 3 + 3 = 26 + 3

⇒ 3x = 29

⇒ 3x ÷ 3 = 29 ÷ 3

⇒ x = 9.7 in (nearest tenth)

Therefore, Nate's car is 9.7 in (nearest tenth).

To find the length of Maya's car, subtract the length of Nate's car from 26:

⇒ 26 - 9.7 = 16.3 in (nearest tenth).

Therefore, Maya's car is 16.3 in (nearest tenth).