# Math Help - Word Problems

1. ## Word Problems

ummmm.... this question is confusing me

Portage la Prairie is between Winnipeg and Brandon along the Trans-Canada Highway. The driving distance from Winnipeg to Brandon is 216km. The distance from Portage la Prairie to Brandon is 36 km less than twice the distance from Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie. Find the distance from:
a) Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie
b) Portage la Prairie to Brandon

I'm having trouble setting the equations up... once i have those I know how to do the math

For A
total distance:
x+y= 216
and then i have no idea how to do the next equation
i think the distance from portage to brandon would be something like 36-2x but i do not know what it would be for winnipeg to portage.....

Help???

2. So the distance from Portage la Prairie to Brandon is $y$
and the distance from Winnipeg to Portage la Prairie is $x$

$x+y = 216$
$2x -36 = y$

can you solve it form there ?

3. yes thank you i got it from there ... i just wasn't quite sure how to set up the equations