Math 40
Section 3.6: Additional Practice Problems
Pre-Algebra
These problems are a bit more challenging and require more thought than we did in class. The problems in class are
more structured and although they introduce the skills we need in Math 60, they don’t challenge students to move to the
next level in terms of the critical thinking skills required in Math 60. So try these, and if you feel comfortable with these
then your algebra and word problem solving skills are where they should be as you ready yourself for Math 60.
“Number” Word Problems
1. Number Problem Four subtracted from three times a number is the same as the total of twice the
number and one. What is the number?
2. Number Problem Find a number such that the sum of a number and 16 is the same as that number less
than four.
3. Number Problem If twice the difference of a number and three is the same as six more than five times
that number, then what is that number?
“One Equation – One Variable” Word Problems
4. Library Borrowing Joseph borrowed a textbook from the Reserve Book Room of the library failed to
return it on time. According to library policy, Joseph is liable for the cost of the book plus additional
late fees which are assessed daily. If Joseph’s MyCerritos account was charged a $188 on a $123
textbook, with late fees of $5 per day, then how many days overdue was Joseph’s book?
5. Photocopying Margaret, a Junior High Teacher, needed to make photocopies of her syllabus for the
first day of school. She put a new ream of paper into the photocopy machine. She then made copies of
her 8–page syllabus. If a new ream of paper contains 500 sheets, and there were 164 sheets of paper left
in the copy machine when Margaret was finished, how many students does Margaret have in her class?
6. Season Tickets Tim owns a 6–seat strip of season tickets to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The
Major League Baseball season is 81 home games long and that means that Tim has a total of 486 tickets.
Tim plans to use 106 of the tickets by attending the games himself, along with his family and friends.
The remaining tickets Tim intends to sell at a profit. If Tim plans to sell 20 tickets per week, how many
weeks will it take him until he has allocated all his season tickets?
Answers to Section 3.6 Additional Practice Problems
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Algebraic
Answer to the Question Being Asked
Solution
“Number” Word Problems
3x – 4 = 2x + 1
x=5
The number is 5.
x + 16 = 4 – x
x=–6
The number is – 6.
2(x – 3) = 5x + 6
x=–4
The number is – 4.
“One Equation – One Variable” Word Problems
123 + 5x = 188, or
x = 13
Joseph’s book was 13 days overdue.
188 – 5x = 123
500 – 8x = 164, or
x = 42
Margaret has 42 students in her class.
164 + 8x = 500
486 – 20x = 106, or
It will take Tim 19 weeks until he
x = 19
106 + 20x = 486
has allocated all his season tickets.
Algebraic Equation