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    aubron's Avatar
    aubron Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Oct 1, 2003, 01:27 PM
    Math word problem
    Each year a computer part is worth about 3/4 of its value the previous year. Now a certain part is worth $90. What was its value two years ago? :-/



    Would this be 135 dollars?
    Fred's Avatar
    Fred Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #2

    Oct 8, 2003, 10:44 PM
    Re: Math word problem
    Hmmm... I get $160... if y=current value and x=previous year's value, then y=(3/4)x. You start with $90...

    90=(3/4)x
    x=(4/3)(90)
    x=120

    ... so it was 120 one year ago, and...

    120=(3/4)x
    x=(4/3)(120)
    x=160

    ... so it was $160 two years ago.
    Maddskizzles's Avatar
    Maddskizzles Posts: 8, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Oct 22, 2003, 09:42 PM
    Re: Math word problem
    Okay just make an equation:
    first you need some variables, the first variable will be X and that's how much money you have, then Y and that's how much money you will have, and lastly n and that's how many years.
    1. for every year you multiply the money you have by 3/4
    so 3/4 to the power of years gives you the factor to multiply the money you have by.
    2. X how much money you have when you start must be multiplied by (3/4)^n so that your final amount of money can be obtained.
    3. Y equals your final amount of money

    So this is how the equation would look like:
    Y=(3/4)^n *X
    After 2 years you end up with $90.00 so the final amount of money (Y) equals $90.00, and the amount of years (n) equals 2. 90=(3/4)^2 *X Solve for X
    90=(9/16)*X
    X*9=.1440
    X=160
    The original value was $160.00
    MathMaven53's Avatar
    MathMaven53 Posts: 20, Reputation: 2
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    #4

    Dec 30, 2003, 10:10 AM
    Re: Math word problem
    Let x be the value two years ago

    Then in one year it is worth (3/4)x
    In two years it is worth (3/4)[(3/4)x]

    This equals (3/4)^2 * x and we know that it also
    equals $90

    So solve for x in (3/4)^2 * x = $90

    (9/16) x = $90

    x/16 = $10

    x = $160
    Nae-nae13's Avatar
    Nae-nae13 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    Feb 11, 2004, 06:26 PM
    yes thaRe: Math word problem
    Each year a computer part is worth about 3/4 of its value the previous year. Now a certain part is worth $90. What was its value two years ago?    :-/



    Would this be 135 dollars?
    yes this would

    always_learning's Avatar
    always_learning Posts: 54, Reputation: 2
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    #6

    Feb 12, 2004, 12:56 AM
    Re: Math word problem
    The item was worth $160 two years ago based on what is called the "diminishing value method".

    I can see how you thought it might be $135. You added a quarter of $90 twice to get to $135.

    If an item loses a quarter of its value from the previous year, you can use this formula:

    Multiply the item's current value by 4/3 then multiply the result by 4/3 again to arrive at the value two years ago.

    Current value of $90 times 4/3 = $120
    $120 times 4/3 = $160

    angel031792's Avatar
    angel031792 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Aug 11, 2005, 04:20 PM
    Help
    The Fernandez family is making shelves to hang on wall brackets for the three kids' bedrooms. They bought a 4 feet by 8 feet sheet of plywood to cut into shelves 24 inches long by 8 inches deep. This would make the correct number of shelves, with no wood left over. They also bought some trime to edge the shelves.

    They are making Ricardo 3/4 as many shelves as they are making for Anthony. Maria is getting four more shelves than her brother Ricardo.

    How many shelves are being made for each person?

    I know that the total shelves being made is 24 but I'm not sure about how many each person is getting. :confused:
    CroCivic91's Avatar
    CroCivic91 Posts: 729, Reputation: 23
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    #8

    Aug 12, 2005, 03:07 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by angel031792
    The Fernandez family is making shelves to hang on wall brackets for the three kids' bedrooms. They bought a 4 feet by 8 feet sheet of plywood to cut into shelves 24 inches long by 8 inches deep. This would make the correct number of shelves, with no wood left over. They also bought some trime to edge the shelves.

    They are making Ricardo 3/4 as many shelves as they are making for Anthony. Maria is getting four more shelves than her brother Ricardo.

    How many shelves are being made for each person?

    i know that the total shelves being made is 24 but im not sure about how many each person is getting. :confused:
    Make an equation like this:
    Amount of shelves Anthony gets = X
    Ricardo = (3/4)*X
    Maria = (3/4)*X + 4

    Now, Anthony + Ricardo + Maria = 24 which means that
    X + (3/4)*X + (3/4)*X + 4 = 24
    (5/2)*X = 20
    X = 20 * (2/5) = 8

    So, Anthony gets 8 shelves.
    Ricardo gets (3/4)*8 = 6
    Maria gets "Ricardo" + 4 = 10

    To check the result, we add 10 + 6 + 8 = 10 + 14 = 24

    So our calculation is correct.

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