Question

On the first day of school, a group of friends met in the courtyard. The others looked at Josh and said "Wow! Did you grow this summer!" "How tall are you now?" they asked. Josh liked puzzles so he answered, "My height is 48 inches more than 1/3 my height." How tall is Josh?

Answer 1

Josh height = x inches = 72 inches

Explanation:

Let

Josh height = x inches

My height is 48 inches more than 1/3 my height

x = 1/3x + 48

x - 1/3x = 48

(3x - x) / 3 = 48

2/3x = 48

x = 48 ÷ 2/3

= 48 × 3/2

= 144/2

x = 72 inches

Josh height = x inches = 72 inches

Check:

x = 1/3x + 48

72 = 1/3(72) + 48

72 = 72/3 + 48

72 = 24 + 48

72 = 72