How to Solve Word Problems

What is the EQUATION for the problem below?

Isaiah his sixteen blue and red marbles.  He has three times as many blues as reds.  How many red marbles does Isaiah have?  How many blue marbles does he have?
Let r = red marbles
Let 3r = blue marbles
Equation: 

• 3b + b = 16
• r + 3r = 16
• r + b = 16
• r + 3b = 16

What is the EQUATION for the problem below?

Ian spent $35 at the fair on ride tickets and admission.  It cost $5 to get into the fair and $2 per ride ticket.  How many ride tickets did Ian buy?
Let t = ride tickets
Equation:

• 5t + 2 = 35
• 7t = 35
• 5 + t = 35
• 5 + 2t = 35

What is the EQUATION for the problem below?

Nick’s dog weighs 12 pounds more than Kiyah’s dog.  Kiyah's dog weighs 60 pounds.  How much does Nick’s dog weigh?
Let n = weight of Nick's dog
Equation:

• n + 12 = 60
• n - 12 = 60
• k + 12 = 60
• k - 12 = 60

WRITE AN EQUATION
Jill sold half of her comic books and then got sixteen more. She now has 36. With how many did she begin?

• x/2 + 16= 36
• 36 + 16 = x
• x/2 - 16 = 36
• x/2 = 36 + 16

Last week Julia ran 30 miles more than Larry. Julia ran 47 miles in total. How many miles did Larry run?

• n + 47 = 30
• n + 30 = 47
• n - 30 = 47
• 30n =47

Jim paid a gym membership fee of $50, plus $20 per month. Jim has paid a total of $290 to the gym. Which equation matches this situation?

• 50 + 20m = 290

• 20 + 50m = 290

• 50 + 20 = m

• 50m - 20 = 290

Scott works on cars. He charges $35 for each car plus $7 per hour. Write an equation that represents this scenario if Kylie's car bill was $63.

• 7x + 35 = 63

• 7x = 63

• 7x - 35 = 63

• 35x + 7 = 63

Natalie is a softball coach. She has a private pitching lesson with Kasey. Kasey's mom pays Natalie $11 per hour plus a $6 tip. Write an equation that represents this scenario if the total cost was $39.

• 11x + 6 = 39

• 11x - 6 = 39

• 11 + 6x = 39

• 66x = 39

WRITE AN EQUATION
For a field trip 4 students rode in cars and the rest filled nine buses. How many students were in each bus if 472 students were on the trip?

• 4x=472
• 9x=472
• 4+9x=472
• 4+x=472

Hailey bought a book for $2.50 and 4 stickers.  She spent a total of 6.59.  How much did the stickers cost?

• $2.50 + 4s =$6.59
• $2.50s + 4 = $6.59
• $2.50 - 4s = $6.59
• 4s - $2.50 = $6.59