volume_mute

Painting

publish date: 2022/06/24 23:32:00 GMT+10

volume_mute

A 10-inch-long paintbrush has two parts: a handle and bristles. Choose a variable to represent the length of one of the parts.  Then write an expression to represent the length of the other part

handle length = h and bristles length = 10 - h
bristles length = b and handle length = 10 - b
bristles length = b and handle length = h
First and second choices
None of the above

Correct Answer

First and second choices

Explanation

paintbrush.jpg

Strategy There are two approaches.  We can let h = the length of the handle or we can let b = the length of the bristles.

WHY Both the length of the handle and the length of the bristles are unknown

Solution Refer to the first drawing. If we let the length of h= the handle (in inches), then the length of the bristles is 10 - h. Now refer to the second drawing. If we let b = the length of the bristles (in inches), then the length of the handle is 10 - b.

Note: Although having unknow variables for both handle length and bristles length is mathematically correct, it will not lead a solution to discover both parts length because you ignored the total length.  Moreover, you ignored what is needed by the question 

Reference

Mathematics for college students

Quizzes you can take where this question appears