Answer:
- 53075 -100m +200m = 55825 -175m
- m = 10; the populations will be equal in 10 months
Step-by-step explanation:
If we let m represent the number of months, then the population increase of the first town is 100m and its decrease is 200m. The population decrease of the second town is 175 m.
We want to find m such that the increases and decreases make the towns' populations equal. We add the increases and subtract the decreases to the base population in each case.
... first town population = second town population
... 53075 -100m +200m = 55825 -175m . . . . . the model equation
Solution
... 100m = 2750 -175m . . . . . collect terms, subtract 53075
... 275m = 2750 . . . . . . . . . . add 175m
... m = 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . divide by 275
The populations will be equal in 10 months.
