Question

Problem:

Jessica works eight less hours per week than Mary. If Mary works 26 hours a week, what is the total hours the two work in a week?

Answer 1

44

Explanation:

Mary works 26 hours in a week.

If Jessica works 8 hours less, 26 - 8 = 18.

26 + 18 = 44

Answer 2

44 hours

Explanation:

1. Identify

Unknown:

• The number of hours Jessica works in a week.
• The total number of hours Jessica and Mary work in a week.

Known:

• Mary works 26 hours in a week.
• Jessica works eight less hours per week than Mary.

2. Strategize

• Let x be the number of hours Mary works in a week.

• If Jessica works eight less hours per week than Mary then:
  ⇒ Hours Jess works = x - 8

• Let y be the total number of hours the two work in a week.

3. Set Up

Total hours = Hours Mary works + Hours Jessica works

⇒ y = x + x - 8

⇒ y = 2x - 8

4. Solve

Mary works 26 hours in a week ⇒ x = 26.

Substitute x = 26 into the equation and solve for y:

⇒ y =2x - 8

⇒ y =2(26) - 8

⇒ y =52 - 8

⇒ y = 44

5. Check

Verify by substituting the solution y = 44 into the original equation:

⇒ 44 = 2x - 8

⇒ 44 + 8 = 2x - 8 + 8

⇒ 52 = 2x

⇒ 52 ÷ 2 = 2x ÷ 2

⇒ 26 = x

⇒ x = 26

As x = 26 and Mary works 26 hours per week, the solution y = 44 is verified.

6. Present

If Mary works 26 hours a week, and Jessica works eight less hours per week than Mary, the total hours the two work in a week is 44 hours.