The equation that represents the situation is: b. m + m + 8 + 1/3(m + 21) = 71, m = 24.
How to find the right equation for the situation?
Let's use the variable m to represent Mia's time.
1. Thomas's time is 8 seconds more than Mia’s time: m + 8.
2. Jasmine’s time is 1/3 times the quantity of 21 seconds more than Mia’s time: 1/3(m + 21).
3. The sum of all three times is 71 seconds: m + (m + 8) + 1/3(m + 21) = 71.
Now let's simplify this equation:
m + m + 8 + 1/3(m + 21) = 71
Combine like terms:
2m + 8 + 1/3m + 7 = 71
Combine the constants:
2m + 1/3m + 15 = 71
Combine the m terms:
6/3m + 1/3m + 15 = 71
Combine the m terms on the left side:
7/3m + 15 = 71
Subtract 15 from both sides:
7/3m = 56
Multiply both sides by 3/7 to solve for m:
m = 3/7 × 56
m = 24
So, the correct equation is:
m + m + 8 + 1/3(m + 21) = 71
And the correct answer is:
b. m + m + 8 + 1/3(m + 21) = 71, m = 24.