(Image: Lucasfilm)
Bob Swanek's son Cody was asked to take an algebraic expression and build a word problem from it. The result of his efforts is a gloriously rich tale about the composition of the next Star Wars film. J.J. Abrams, the director of that movie, is facing some serious problems:
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?
What is the correct answer?
(Photo: Bob Swanek)
-via 22 Words
It's also possible that the bounty hunters get paid a base rate of 200 per day and 50 per spy, and that the spies are available on the first day. We'd also have to assume that we don't have to pay the daily rent for the first day for the speeders.
Using my interpretation, the formula would be 300t = 700 + 100(t - 1), in which case t = 3. (Edited for an error of my own.)