Question

Difficulty: EasyTranslating and Solving Algebraic Word Problems

Jordan starts a walk with 25002{}500 steps already recorded on a fitness tracker. Jordan then walks at a constant rate of 120120 steps per minute. If the fitness tracker shows a total of 79007{}900 steps at the end of the walk, for how many minutes did Jordan walk?

Answer: 45 minutes

Answer

Jordan walked for 4545 minutes.
The correct answer is 4545. The scenario describes a linear relationship with a constant rate of 120120 steps per minute and a starting baseline of 25002{}500 steps. Let mm represent the number of minutes Jordan walked. The equation is 2500+120m=79002{}500 + 120m = 7{}900. Subtracting 25002{}500 from both sides gives 120m=5400120m = 5{}400, and dividing by 120120 yields m=45m = 45.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Set up the algebraic equation based on the word problem details.
2500+120m=79002{}500 + 120m = 7{}900
The total steps are the sum of the starting steps (25002{}500) and the product of the rate (120120 steps/min) and time (mm minutes).
2
Isolate the variable term by subtracting 25002{}500 from both sides of the equation.
120m=5400120m = 5{}400
Subtracting the initial steps gives the steps accumulated solely during the walk.
3
Solve for mm by dividing both sides of the equation by 120120.
m=45m = 45
Dividing the total steps walked by the rate per minute yields the duration of the walk in minutes.

Key Concept

Translating verbal descriptions of constant rates and starting values into linear equations

Alternative Method

Solve arithmetically by subtracting the baseline steps from the final count (79002500=54007{}900 - 2{}500 = 5{}400 steps) and dividing the remaining steps by the walking rate (5400÷120=455{}400 \div 120 = 45 minutes).
Estimated Time:45s
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