can somebody help me understand how to figure this story problem out?

Question

A mortgage payment is $30 less than 3 times the property tax payment. The sum of the mortgage payment and the property tax payment is $1,170. How much is the mortgage payment.

Answer 1

First, write the sentences out like they're equations.
Let's call the mortgage payment M and the property tax payment P.
A mortgage payment (M) is $30 less than 3 times the property payment (P)....
So three times the property payment (3 x P) minus $30 (-30)should equal the mortgage payment (M). Write this out as an equation, and do the same for the second sentence, giving you...

M = 3 x P - 30
M+ P = 1170

Then rearrange one of the equations so you solved for one of the variables. So, for example, the second equation becomes...

M = 1170 - P

Then plug that right side of the equation back in for M in the first equation.

1170 - P = 3 x P - 30

And solve for P

1170 + 30 = 3P + P
1200 = 4P
P = 300 bucks (for the property tax, since the variable is P)

Then, to find M, plug the value for P back into one of the original equations.
M = 3P -30
M = 3(300)-30 = 900-30 = 870

Answer 2

Let x = the property tax payment
Then 3x-30 = mortgage payment
x+3x -30 =1170
4x=1200
x=300 =property tax
3(300) - 30 = 870 = motgage payment

Answer 3

Remember = means 'is'.
Let x = property tax
y = mtg pmt
From the word problem:
y = 3x - 30.
mtg pmt + property tax = 1170 or
y + x=1170
3x - 30 + x = 1170
Solving the second equation for x,
3x - 30 + x = 1170
4x - 30 = 1170
4x = 1200
x = 300

Substituting 300 for x in mtg pmt = 3(300) - 30, 900 - 30 = $870

Answer 4

Let's give the payments variables,
Property Tax~ x
Mortage ~ 3x-30

So, 3x-30+x=1170 / add the variable
4x-30=1170 / add 30 to isolate the variables
4x=1200 / divide by 4
x=300

Therefore the mortage payment is $870.

Answer 5

let:
m = mortgage payment
p = property tax payment

write the words as equations:
m = 3 * p - 30
m + p = 1170

substitute the first equation into the second:
3 * p - 30 + p = 1170
simplify:
4 * p = 1200
solve for p:
p = 300
solve for m:
m = 870

Answer 6

If p is the property tax payment, then 3p - 30 is the mortgage payment.

So p + 3p - 30 = 1170

Go from there.

Answer 7

Mp = (3 x Tax) - 30

Mp + Tax = 1170

(3 x Tax)-30 +Tax = 1170

Tax = (1170 +30) / 4

Solved

Answer 8

x=property tax
y=mortgage=3x-30
x+y=1170
x+3x-30=1170
4x-30=1170
4x=1200
x=300
y=870

the mortgage payment is 870