Algebra AGE WORD PROBLEM – Let’s solve it step-by-step...

TabletClass Math:


Math Notes:

[jarmstrong]

I am a retired mechanical engineer and quantum physicist with a PhD in both fields. I was a research scientist in both the space and arms development fields. Mathematics were my entire life. However, four years ago I suffered a stroke. Now my mathematical abilities are no longer there. I struggle with the basic concepts. Even many of my writing abilities are much less than they were.

I view your videos quite often, but what I learned today will have to be relearned tomorrow. And so goes the struggle each day. The Drs don’t seem to think I will ever recover in many respects. But, I will keep plugging away until some day the connections are made. Thanks for your videos. They do help, but in my case in small increments.

[richardowens]

I would have solved for the age Beth would be next year. And, since we know Beth would be twice her brother's age next year, we can simply take the eight year difference and multiply that by two to get 16. Then, just subtract one to get Beth = 15 years old right now.

[community-fusionnetwork]

She's 15 and he's 7. Next year, she'll be 16 and he'll be 8. I'm not a math genius, but I can figure that out in my head

[jwacio]

1. Please get to the point. 2. Give students a massive tip: You read the call of the question line first. I.E. "How old is Beth now?" OMG! Beth will be eight years older than her brother next year as well as this year. x+8=2x. Solve for X. X=8. Next year B and B will be 16, and 8. Subtract one for this year: Beth is 15. Brother is 7. For heaven's sake.

[imagewavesurfphoto]

At 4 minutes in I derived that this guy is the kind of teacher that turns kids off to math. HE NEVER SHUTS UP AND GETS TO THE POINT…!!!!

[ldavery]

She aged 10 years waiting for him to get to the point! GET TO THE POINT!

[jeffburnham]

The reasons students get distracted is because the teachers spend too much time rambling on about non-essential information not relevant to the equation. I had a teacher like that. He would spend 30-45 minutes talking about how to solve a different equation, or what a variable i, etc. He then would rattle off a new equation for 5 minutes and then turn the class loose with the assignment as homework. Always wanted to see the work for each equation. The only people that liked math were the ones that could solve the problem in their head, and just wrote down the equation as they went. I was glad when the semester ended. I hated Algebra, still do. My life goals didn't include a job at NASA, JPL, or anywhere in the scientific field.

[jerrygustanski]

I am a retired computer programmer and I set up two equations: 1: x = y - 8 and 2: y + 1 = 2(x+1). Substituting the 1st y - 8 into the second for x allows you, after moving things around, to solve directly for y. I just wanted to see if I could still do it at age 71+.

[joepalmer]

I did it in my head in 2 seconds. Next year she'll be double her brother's age, so Beth is 15 and her brother is 7. However, I can see where the algebra would be needed if the question were more complex. Good video!

[manofmartin]

My daughter, at age 16, asked me for help with math.
I used to be very fluent in algebra. I was stumped almost instantly. I've been combing through all your algebra play lists to refresh.
It's amazing what you forget over 20 years. Thank you for taking the time for what is likely a lot of moms and dads trying to help their kids 20+ years later!

[irProteus]

This is a classic example of VERBOSITY; with a teacher like this I would have RUN out of the classroom with my hands over my ears S C R E A M I N G.... and NEVER returning!

[alianjohnson]

Mate I've said before that there is too much 'talk' in the video - 5 mins in and we haven't started the problem. this is a 5 min video so appreciate it if you can keep them brief and not try and push the content and 'extras' out to 20 min. please look at the comments below

[logannaidoo]

Though he's warm and articulate, I find his teaching style to be long and drawn out. Advice which can be confined to the end are interspersed with the explanation, causing one to lose one's focus and concentration. Which, for a subject like Math, is not ideal. Cut to the chase, sir. Life's short enough as it is.

[gregoryharlston]

I like that you are engaging and thorough, but math videos over 5 minutes don't get viewed nearly as often as shorter videos. I like the table you created (9:32) with the variables and I think it will help many struggling students. The main problem is that most of these struggling students would probably have clicked on another video before they get to these tables.

[MPam]

Somewhere along the way, years ago, i didn't learn (in sequence) the skills i should have learned before being introduced to algebra. Consequently, math became a dreaded and least favorite subject for me by high school. Ironically, i was 1 of only 2 students who successfully passed a real estate sales math course out of a group of 24 adults years later. And, i LOVED the math portion of the exam. I just think my family moved a bit too much during my elementary school years and it caused me to lose out on sequential math instruction. In other words, thanks every so much for your video!

[lennartbjorksten]

In word problems, start by making your variable equal to the answer.
Let x be how old Beth is now.
Her brother is then (x-8) years old.
Next year, Beth's age will be (x+1). Her brother's will be (x-8)+1, or x-7.
So (x+1) = 2*(x-7).
Solving for x, we get x = 15.
Answer: Beth is now 15 years old.

Double checking: Beth is 15 and her brother is 7. Next year, her brother will be 8 and Beth will be 16, which is twice her brother's age. Yep, checks out.

Why did this take 21 minutes?

[dcrtse]

Thank you for the video. However, and I say this with all due respect, I have to agree with others that there was too much talking to show the steps and how to solve this problem. I found myself losing interest almost immediately and had to fast forward the video. Perhaps cut down on the chatter and get more to the point would be helpful? On a more positive note, it appears you are the kind of teacher who loves to teach, is patient, and is willing to answer a gazillion questions from students. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[kikiallen]

no wonder I was always useless at algebra. I have never watched such a long winded video in my life! I had the answer of 15 in about 15 seconds just reading the problem but never would I have sorted out all your working out. I have a block on finding the easy way to do anything, always have but with algebra would read problem and solve in 30 seconds but could never understand the reason for the long working out of it. Drove my maths teacher crazy and my physics teacher would laugh and say my brain was weird because I always knew the answer without having to sit and work it out. I get where you are coming from but I don't see the point of all those workings out for nothing.

[justinstephenson]

This is trivial and can be done in your head but the formula is easy as well.
Set Beth's age =x and brother's age as y. From the question we know:
1) x=y+8
2) x+1=2(y+1)

Lets expand out equation 2: x+1=2y+2, now simplify by subtracting 1 from both sides which results in the equation x=2y+1.

Now substitute that result for x back into the first equation which gives you 2y+1=y+8,
which simplifies down (by subtracting y+1 from both sides) to y=7.

Substitute y=7 back into equation 1 gives you x=7+8, so x=15 and hence this year Beth is aged 15.

You do not need 20+ minutes to explain that even to a 7 year old child

[MaeMae-vgwo]

I am 75 y/o, and when I started school it wasn’t considered for girls to be taught the math and sciences. Sad but true. After all all you were going to do is get married and have children. I struggled with math for most of my years in school, which really makes a person feel stupid. I did end up going to college my my children were preteens. I obtained my AA, BA and MS degrees. Fortunately in my Masters program I had an excellent in teaching me statistics for behavioral sciences which I remembered long enough to to pass my finals. As time went on I started teaching myself math, as I am the kind of person who doesn’t like not accomplishing things that had been difficult for me in the past. I must say my brain kind of tilts when it comes to advanced math, but I haven’t given up. I am still working on accomplishing the advanced maths and the kind of help programs like yours have really helped me. So to all those dinosaurs of old, we old woman who were all made to feel “stupid” and unimportant with little value na na boo boo,