Question

Two combine in harvest 320 acres of wheat in a certain amount of time. Assuming all combines work at the same rate, how many acres of wheat can six combines harvest in the same amount of time?

Answer 1

General Idea:

(i) Assign variable for the unknown that we need to find.

(ii) Set up an equation based on the given information

(iii) Solve the equation by Undoing whatever is done to the variable. Solving means finding the value of the variable which will make the equation TRUE.

Applying the concept:

Let x be number of acres of wheat that one combine can harvest in given amount of time.

Sentence 1: "Two combine in harvest 320 acres of wheat in a certain amount of time"

`2x=320\\ Dividing \; 2\; on\; both\; sides\; of\; the\; equation\\ \\ (2x)/(2)=(320)/(2) \\ Simplifying\; fractions\; on\; both\; sides\\ \\ x=160\\`

Conclusion:

Assuming all combines work at the same rate, number of acres of wheat that six combines can harvest in the same amount of time is 960 acres

`6x=6(160)=960 \; acres`