The marsh family took a vacation that covered a total distance of 1356 miles. the return trip was 284 miles shorter than the first part of the trip. how long was the return trip?

So going+return=1356
return is 284 lesss than going
return=-284+going
subsitute

going-284+going=1356
2going-284=1356
add 284 to both sides
2going=1640
divide both sides by 2
going=820

so we havve
return=-284+going
return=-284+820
return=536

answer is return=536 miles