Multi-Step Equation Word
Problems
Example Number 1
Three times a number is the same as five more
than twice the number. Find the number.
3x = 2x + 5
Example Number 2
Four times a number plus five times the number is
the same as ten more than eight times the
number. Find the number.
4x + 5x = 8x + 10
Example Number 3
Mari can buy a video game console for $72.45 and
rent a game for $7.95 per week, or she can rent a
console and the same game for a total of $22.44
per week. How many weeks would Mari need to
rent both the video game and the console to pay
as much as she would if she had bought the
console and rented the game instead?
72.45 + 7.95x = 22.44x
Example Number 4
Pedro opened his account with $710 and withdrew
$35 per week. Maria opened her account with
$570 and withdrew $25 weekly. In how many
weeks will their accounts be equal?
710 – 35x = 570 – 25x
Example Number 5
The Magic Carpet charges $90 for installation and
$9 per square yard of carpeting. The Carpeteria’s
installation price is $50 but the store charges $13
for each square yard. For what number of square
yards of carpeting will the cost, including
installation, be the same for both stores?
90 + 9x = 50 + 13x
Example Number 6
Prestige Car Rentals charges $44 per day plus 6¢
per mile to rent a mid-sized vehicle. Gateway
Auto charges $35 per day plus 9¢ per mile for the
same car. For what number of miles will both
companies charge the same price?
44 +0.06x = 35 + 0.09x
Example Number 7
Nilda has $250 in her savings account. She plans to
save $15 per week from her salary. Iona has only
$200 in her account but can save $20 a week
from her paycheck. How many weeks will it take
before the amount in each savings account is the
same?
250 + 15x = 200 + 20x
Example Number 8
A sales person in a stereo store is given a choice of
two different compensation plans. One plan offers
a weekly salary of $250 plus a commission of $25
for each stereo sold. The other plan offers no
salary but pays $50 commission on each stereo
sold. How many stereos must the sales person sell
to make the same amount of money under both
plans?
250 + 25x = 50x