Solve equations: word problems
Learn with an example
🔔 This equation shows how the total length Layla has knit depends on the number of nights she has spent knitting.
t = n + 15
The variable n represents the number of nights Layla has spent knitting, and the variable t represents the total length she has knit in centimetres. How many nights will Layla have to spend knitting in order to knit a total of 17 centimetres of scarf?
____nights
Layla has knit a total of 17 centimetres of scarf. Plug in t = 17.
t = n + 15
17 = n + 15 Plug in t = 17
2 = n Subtract 15 from both sides
To knit a total of 17 centimetres of scarf, Layla will need to spend 2 nights knitting.
🔔 This equation shows how the total number of pieces Ted knows how to sing depends on the number of weeks he takes voice lessons.
p = w + 10
The variable w represents the number of weeks he has taken voice lessons, and the variable p represents the total number of pieces he has learnt. How many weeks of lessons will Ted need before he will be able to sing a total of 18 pieces?
______ weeks
Ted has learnt 18 pieces. Plug in p = 18.
p = w + 10
18 = w + 10 Plug in p = 18
8 = w Subtract 10 from both sides
Ted will need 8 weeks of lessons before he will be able to sing a total of 18 pieces.
🔔 This equation shows how the amount of dough Tyler has prepared is related to the number of hours he has spent working at the bakery.
d = h + 11
The variable h represents the number of hours worked, and the variable d represents the amount of dough prepared. How many hours did Tyler work if he prepared 19 kilograms of dough?
_____ hours
Tyler prepared 19 kilograms of dough. Plug in d = 19.
d = h + 11
19 = h + 11 Plug in d = 19
8 = h Subtract 11 from both sides
If Tyler prepared 19 kilograms of dough, he must have worked for 8 hours.
Let’s practice!🖊️
