Question

at a theme park, the waiting time for the roller coaster is usually 3 times as long as the waiting time for the bumper cars. the park’s website says that visitors who go on both rides should expect to wait a total of 30 min. what is the usual waiting time for the bumper cars? show your work.

Explanation:

Step1: Define variables

Let \( x \) be the usual waiting time for the bumper cars, then the waiting time for the roller coaster is \( 3x \).

Step2: Set up equation

The total waiting time for both rides is \( 3x + x = 30 \) minutes.

Step3: Solve the equation

Combine like terms: \( 4x = 30 \). Then divide both sides by 4: \( x=\frac{30}{4} = 7.5 \).

Answer:

The usual waiting time for the bumper cars is 7.5 minutes.