Question

Jose weighs 180 pounds and plans on gaining 2 pounds per week. Marty weighs 249 pounds and plans on losing 1 pound per week. In how many weeks will they weigh the same?

Answer 1

Answer: it will take 23 weeks for both of them to weigh the same.

Explanation:

Let x represent the number of weeks that it will take both of them to weigh the same.

Let y represent the weight of Jose in x weeks.

Let z represent the weight of Marty in x weeks.

Jose weighs 180 pounds and plans on gaining 2 pounds per week. This means that

y = 180 + 2x - - - - - - - - 1

Marty weighs 249 pounds and plans on losing 1 pound per week. This means that

z = 249 - x - - - - - - - - 2

To determine the number of weeks that it will take both of them to weigh the same, we will equate both equations. It becomes

180 + 2x = 249 - x

2x + x = 249 - 180

3x = 69

x = 69/3 = 23