March Question: The National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio, reported the precipitation for Cincinnati and Dayton during the first 1-1/2 months of 2001. The reports indicated that Cincinnati and Dayton felt a combined total of 4.32 inches of precipitation during this period. The Cincinnati area reported .66 inches more than Dayton. Write and solve an equation to show how much precipitation fell in both areas.


Congratulations to Scott from the seventh grade math class at 
Crooksville School for getting the correct answer to the 
March 2001 Question of the Month!

Answer: Set up an equation so that one variable is used. Use the known information to get started:
          Cincinnati and Dayton = 4.32
          Cincinnati = .66 more than Dayton

So,
          Dayton          = d
          Cincinnati    = + .66
          Total              = 4.32

d + (d + .66)  = 4.32
d + d + .66    = 4.32
2d + .66        = 4.32
      - .66             - .66

2d = 3.66
2         2

d = 1.83 in.
So, Dayton recorded 1.83 inches of precipitation. Now, plug in Cincinnati (d + .66) or 2.49 inches.