It took Dad 5 more than twice as long to vacuum upstairs then to vacuum downstairs. He vacuumed for a total of 38 minutes. How many minutes did he vacuum upstairs?
Think hard. Detailed solution:
27
Let D = time in minutes to vacuum downstairs.

Upstairs = 2D + 5 minutes.

3D + 5 = 38.

3D = 33.

D = 11 minutes.

Upstairs = (2 * 11) + 5 = 27 minutes.

Dad took 27 minutes to vacuum upstairs.

.

The answer: 27