This particular problem is indeed a big pain in the ass, for pretty much the reason you specify: you have to realize that “half the trip” means “half the distance” and then set up the algebra in different way than you usually do.
As a relatively young child (I think I was about 10 years old), I used a computer software program that taught me the General Method To Solve Any Word Problem You May Have To Do For Homework. I don’t remember what it was called, and I don’t know if I can actually explain the algorithm over the Internet, but I think I can credit my ability to successfully execute that algorithm with a lot of my later success in school.
This particular problem is indeed a big pain in the ass, for pretty much the reason you specify: you have to realize that “half the trip” means “half the distance” and then set up the algebra in different way than you usually do.
As a relatively young child (I think I was about 10 years old), I used a computer software program that taught me the General Method To Solve Any Word Problem You May Have To Do For Homework. I don’t remember what it was called, and I don’t know if I can actually explain the algorithm over the Internet, but I think I can credit my ability to successfully execute that algorithm with a lot of my later success in school.