Student Writes Star Wars Math Problem, Abrams Solves It

One student wrote a Star Wars-themed word problem involving a kidnapped J.J. Abrams and rental fees.

Last week eighth grade student Cody Swanek wrote a word problem using elements of the Star Wars universe for an assignment in converting algebra expressions into word problems. J.J. Abrams, director for Star Wars Episode VII solved the problem and sent Swanek a personal reply.

Swanek’s problem is as follows:

“J. J. Abrams is making Star Wars Episode 7. He rented three speeder bikes which was 700 imperial credits to start. He must pay 100 imperial credits to keep his speeder bikes daily. If he does not pay daily, Prince Xizor and other Black Sun members will kidnap J. J. Abrams, bring him to Mustafar, and sacrifice him.
J. J. Abrams is also paying 5 bounty hunters to keep separatist spies out. That costs 200 imperial credits to start, then 50 imperial credits for each bounty hunter every time they capture a spy. The Separatists send 2 spies every day.

In how many days does J. J. Abrams spend the same amount of imperial credits on speeders and bounty hunters?”

Abrams wrote to Swanek with the answer to the problem and then wrote a Star Wars word problem of his own.

“If I needed to hire passage to the Alderaan system at a rate of 17,000 credits a day – and had to travel 12 Parsecs at a velocity of 1500 times the speed of light, how much would this trip cost me? This, I think, is the real issue here.”

Can you solve Abrams’ math problem?

Source: Aggressive Comix