Technical Math: An architect plans to use ceramic tile in...

[cenelson]

I am awful at solving word problems and I'm stuck on this one. Can someone explain this one to me and walk me through the steps.

An architect plans to have 25% of the floor area of a house in ceramic tile. In all but the kitchen and entry, there are 2000ft2 of floor area, 15% of which is tile. What area can be planned for the kitchen and entry if each has as all tile floor?

 

[skeeter]

first off, what a terribly "worded" word problem.

In all but the kitchen and entry, there are 2000ft² of floor area ...

this statement basically sez that the total house area = (kitchen+entry area) + 2000

... 15% of which is tile. this statement says to me (if I interpret the "wording" correctly) that 15% of the 2000 ft² = 300 ft² is tile.

An architect plans to have 25% of the floor area of a house in ceramic tile.

so, letting K = kitchen+entry area and setting up an equation ...

25% of total area = K + 300

.25(K + 2000) = K + 300

solve for K.