Application: Zoology

Property The height of an average mandrill is $2.54$ cm more than $12$ times the length of its tail. If the height of a mandrill is $78.74$ centimeters, then what is the length of its tail?

Examples An animal's height ($94.5$ cm) is $4.5$ cm more than $10$ times its tail length ($t$). This translates to the equation $10t + 4.5 = 94.5$. To solve $10t + 4.5 = 94.5$, first subtract $4.5$ from both sides to get $10t = 90$. With the equation simplified to $10t = 90$, you can now divide both sides by $10$ to find the tail length: $t = 9$ cm.

Explanation Math isn't just in textbooks; it's hiding in the real world, even in the animal kingdom! You can turn fun facts into solvable equations. By assigning a variable, like 't' for tail, to the unknown value, you can build an equation from the description and use your algebra skills to uncover the solution. It’s like being a math detective!