Sarah drove 3 hours more than Michael on their trip to Texas. If the trip took 37 hours, how long did Sarah and Michael each drive?Can you please...

Solution witout Algebra:

If the extra 3 hours are separated from 37 hours of the trip, we get34 hours which is driven equally by Sarah and Michael. So, 34/2=17 hours are equally driven by both out of 34 hours. Now add Sarah's part of extra 3 hours. So, Sarah drove 17+3 =20 Hours, and Michel drove 17 hours.

Method of Agebra:

The driving  hours by Sarah is known in terms of driving of Michale plus 3 hours.. So, the unknown hours of driving of Michale is assumed to be x hrs which is the basic unknown to solve in this word problem. Then Sarah's duration of driving is x+3 hours. So, their total hours of driving (algebaically)=x+x+3=2x+3 hours. Butsthis is equal to 37 hours. The basic requirement of the word problem is to set up an equation. So,the equation of this word  problem is:

2x+3=37

where x is the basic unknown hours of Michale's driving hours. Once you solve for x, you get x+3 as duration in hours of Sarah's driving.

Solving the equation:

2x+3=37

Subtract 3 from both sides:

2x+3-3=37-3

2x=34

Divide both sides by 2

2x/2=34/2

x=17 hours, is the duration of Michel's drive and

x+3=17+3=20 hours is that of Sarah's.