Step by step
The question
Question: D = 60h + 10 is the distance from home, in miles, after h hours of driving.
What does 60 mean?
We write the equation big, so we can label it.
1 What the letters mean
D is the distance from home, in miles.
h is the number of hours.
2 Make a small table
To see what each number does, we try a few hours: 0, 1 and 2.
0 is where it starts.
h = 0: 60 times 0 is 0.
Plus 10 is 10.
h = 1: 60 times 1 is 60.
Plus 10 is 70.
h = 2: 60 times 2 is 120.
Plus 10 is 130.
Look at the values of D: 10, 70, 130.
Each time h goes up 1, D goes up by 60.
The same number every time.
3 Find the numbers in the table
Now we write the equation again, and label its numbers.
And 10?
At h = 0, 60 times 0 is 0.
Only 10 is left: the first number in the table.
So 10 is the distance from home at 0 hours: the start.
Where does plus 60 each time come from?
From 60h: 60 times h.
Each extra hour adds one more 60.
Careful!
60 is multiplied by h, so each hour adds another 60.
The start is the number alone.
4 Say it in words
So 60 means: the distance from home goes up 60 miles for each extra hour.
5 Check
Let's check with h = 3.
In words: start at 10, then add 60 three times.
We get 190.
The equation with h = 3: 60 times 3 is 180.
Plus 10 gives 190 too.
So the meaning is right!
Let's look back.
First: what the letters mean.
Then: make a small table.
Then: find the numbers in the table.
Then: say it in words.
Last: check.