According to data from the U. S. Census Bureau, in 2010 21,495 workers in Wake County had a daily commute between 45 and 59 minutes. By 2016 the number of workers with this long of a commute had increased by 82%. How many Wake County workers had a 45-59 minute commute in 2016?

Explanation:

Ignore the "45" and "59" as they aren't used in this problem. The year numbers don't matter either.  These numbers are either thrown in as filler or distraction.

We're basically being asked "we started with 21,495 and increased by 82%, what is the new value?"

Take 82% of this to get 0.82*21495 = 17,625.9 which rounds to 17,626 since it doesn't make sense to have a decimal or fractional portion of a person. So the number of workers has increased by about 17,626 people.

Add this to the original amount to get 21,495 + 17,626 = 39,121 which is the answer

As a shortcut, you could multiply 21495 by 1.82 to indicate an 82% increase

1.82*21495 = 39,120.9 which rounds to 39,121

-2/

starting with:    

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7   

5 + x - 12 - x = 2x - 7 - x (subtract x from both sides)   

5 - 12 = x - 7 (combine and cancel x's from both sides)   

5 - 12 + 7 = x - 7 + 7 (add 7 to both sides)   

0 = x (add numbers together on both sides)       

so in order for the equation to be true, x must be 0.   

trying x = -0.5   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = 2(-0.5) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + -0.5 - 12 = -1 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7.5 = -8 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7.5 is obviously not equal to -8, the value of -0.5 for x is wrong.   

trying x = 0   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 2(0) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 0 - 12 = 0 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-7 = -7 (did addition on both sides)       

since -7 equals -7, that demonstrates that the value of 0 for x is correct.   

trying x = 1   

5 + x - 12 = 2x - 7 (original equation)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2(1) - 7 (plug in value of x)   

5 + 1 - 12 = 2 - 7 (did multiplication)   

-6 = -5 (did addition on both sides)       

since -6 is obviously not equal to -5, the value of 1 for x is wrong.