x+(x-3)+(2x)=25

shuzzbutt · 18 Apr 2013 at 21:33

Please help me understand how to solve this. Its from a past gcse maths paper and I know x=7 but have no clue how to work this out from the given equation!

Yeah I'm not bright but just interested

shuzzbutt · 18 Apr 2013 at 21:39

Thank you so much- I would have never worked it out in a million years!

what would you call this type of question/method ie what kind of algebra if that makes any sense??!

shuzzbutt · 18 Apr 2013 at 21:58

Well I'm 31 and have no clue

I did foundation maths at gcse 15 years ago and got a grade C which as I understand it, is the most available on that level of exam.

Now I'm older and actually interested in learning I'm thinking of maybe taking an evening maths gcse course for a sense of achievement if nothing else

shuzzbutt · 18 Apr 2013 at 22:04

DAnDan said:
What age would kids to this at? I'm guessing around 11 years old?

lol I got this from the 2009 gcse higher maths paper!

I saw the foundation paper which kicked off with a question about reading the time of a clock face :eek:

shuzzbutt · 18 Apr 2013 at 22:06

geuben said:
I'm surprised with a C grade you didn't know how to do that. Especially with the answer given so you know if you went wrong or not when you finished. Good on you for trying to change that though.

I can't actually remember much maths at all since my adult life has so far required knowing nowt more than how to add vat to the stuff I flog!

This is the first maths I've looked at since leaving school- rather shamefully

For reference heres the paper: http://web.archive.org/web/20100601...uk/qual/gcse/qp-ms/AQA-4306-1H-W-QP-JUN09.PDF

shuzzbutt · 18 Apr 2013 at 22:14

bazaarboy said:
it's not the difficulty that scares people, it's a confidence thing. if you can imagine a real life example with the same equation almost everyone can solve it

I agree with this- you guy's have come on here and made me see how simple this actually is. However, looking at it on my own, those brackets really threw me. I think I'm going to WHS tomorrow to pick up a maths text book and dust some serious cobwebs off my brain

shuzzbutt · 18 Apr 2013 at 23:03

As a side note is there anybody here that decided to take either GCSE or A level maths as an ahem, 'mature student'

shuzzbutt · 19 Apr 2013 at 08:30

Orcvader said:
As a Maths student... I'm not sure what to think of this thread...

There's one 50+ guy in my BSc Mathematics class, and then a couple of 30-40 ones. Go on, you know you want to join them .

I don't quite know why, but yeah, I actually do!!!!

shuzzbutt · 19 Apr 2013 at 21:16

i've found another hobby- watching gilbert strang giving lectures at m.i.t on youtube

Haven't got a clue whats going on but it's just fun to watch lol