Question

A roller coaster has 4 cars, each with the same number of seats. There are 21 passengers seated in the roller coaster, but 3 seats are empty. Write an equation that can be used to determine the number of seats in each car, s.

Answer 1

`4x = 24`

Explanation:

Given

`Cars = 4`

`Passengers = 21`

`Empty\ Seats = 3`

Required

Equation for the number of seats

Represent number of seats in 1 car with x

`1\ car = x`

`4\ cars = 4 * x`

`4\ cars = 4x` seats

Solving further:

Number of seats can be determined using the following logic;

`Total\ Seats = Empty\ Seats + Occupied\ Seats`

The occupied seats are occupied by passengers;

So:

`Occupied\ Seats = 21`

`Total\ Seats = Empty\ Seats + Occupied\ Seats` becomes

`Total\ Seats = 3 + 21`

`Total\ Seats = 24`

Hence; total seats in the 4 cars is 24

Recall that:

`4\ cars = 4x` seats

Substitute 24 for 4 cars

`24 = 4x`

Reorder

`4x = 24`