Transcript Solving Word Problems

Solving Word Problems
1) Read the problem. Underline words that imply
a mathematical operation. Underline important
given information.
Ex) increased by, more than +
Ex) decreased by, less than
2) Identify what you are asked to find and list other
important given information.
Ex) Find : Fred’s age
Given: Joanne’s age is 4 more than Fred’s age
3) Assign a variable to the unknown value(s)
Find : Fred’s age = x
Given: Joanne age = x + 4
4) Write an equation that contains your
variable(s).
5) Solve the equation from step 4.
6) Check. Does the answer make physical or
mathematical sense? Can Fred’s age come
out to be a negative answers? Can it be a
fraction?
Let’s Try an Example
Ex) If three times a number is increased by
1 the result is 5 times the number
increased by 5. Find the number.
Step 1
If three times a number is increased by 1 the
result is 5 times the number increased by
5. Find the number.
Step 2
Find : The number
Step 3
Find: The number = x
Step 4 Write the Equation
three times a number increased by 1
3x + 1
Five times a number increased by 5
5x + 5
If three times a number is increased by 1 the result
is five times a number increased by 5.
3x + 1 = 5x + 5
Step 5 Solve the equation
3x + 1 = 5x + 5
-1
-1
______________
3x
= 5x + 4
-5x
-5x
______________
-2x = 4
x = -2
Check the answer
3 ( -2) + 1 = 5( -2) + 5
-6 + 1 = -10 + 5
-5
= -5
True statement
x = - 2 is the correct solution.