Can someone please please help me understand how to go about solving this? (not really answering it, but actually explaining it-pretty please?)
"The zipper and the safety pin were invented in the 14th century. The safety pin was invented 44 years before the zipper. The sum of the years in which they were invented is 3742. In what year was the zipper invented?"
x+y=3742
x=y-44
y-44+y=3742
2y-44=3742
2y=3786
y=1893
Now plug that back into either of the first two equations to solve for x.
Sure! Let's break down the problem step by step to understand how to solve it:
1. Identify the given information:
- The safety pin was invented 44 years before the zipper.
- The sum of the years in which they were invented is 3742.
2. Assign variables:
- Let's assume the year in which the zipper was invented as "x".
- Since the safety pin was invented 44 years before the zipper, the year of the safety pin's invention is "x - 44".
3. Formulate the equation:
- According to the given information, the sum of the years in which the zipper and safety pin were invented is 3742. Therefore, the equation becomes: x + (x - 44) = 3742.
4. Solve the equation:
- Simplify the equation: 2x - 44 = 3742.
- Add 44 to both sides to isolate 2x: 2x = 3786.
- Divide both sides of the equation by 2 to solve for x: x = 1893.
5. Interpret the answer:
- The value of "x" represents the year in which the zipper was invented.
- Therefore, the zipper was invented in the year 1893.
So, the answer to the question is that the zipper was invented in the year 1893.