Writing Equations from Word Problems
For each word problem, clearly define your variables and set-up an equation. Solve.
1. 5 times the sum of a number and negative 12
is equal to -40. What is the number?
Variable:__________________________
Equation:__________________________
2. You return a book that is 5 days overdue.
Including a previously unpaid overdue balance of
$1.30, your new balance is $2.05. What is the
fine for a book that is one day overdue?
Variable: __________________________
Equation: __________________________
Solution: __________________________
Final Solution: ________________________
3. During the basketball season, Jason scored
43 points. He scored 5 fewer points than three
times the number Kevin did. How many points
did Kevin score?
Variable:__________________________
4. Johnny has three more than twice the
number of stickers that Jane has. If all
together, they have 51 stickers, how many does
each person have?
Variables:__________________________
__________________________
Equation:__________________________
Equation:__________________________
Solution: __________________________
Solution: __________________________
5. The sum of three consecutive numbers is
equal to 192. What are the numbers?
6. Peter has $25 more than Jacob. Their
friend Mike has $14 less than Jacob. The total
amount of money they have is $272. How much
does each boy have?
Variables: __________________________
Variables: __________________________
__________________________
__________________________
Equation: __________________________
Final Solutions: ________________________
__________________________
__________________________
Equation: __________________________
Final Solutions:
Jacob: _____ Peter: _____ Mike: _____
Writing Equations from Word Problems -Solutions
Example 1:
5 times the sum of a number and negative 12 is
equal to -40. What is the number?
Variable: n = a number
Equation: 5(n + -12) = -40
Solution: n = 4
Example 3:
During the basketball season, Jason scored 43
points. He scored 5 fewer points than three
times the number Kevin did. How many points
did Kevin score?
Variable: k = Kevin’s points
Equation: 3k – 5 = 43
Solution: 16 points
Example 5:
The sum of three consecutive numbers is equal
to 192. What are the numbers?
Variables: n = first number
n + 1 = second number
n + 2 = third number
Equation: n + n + 1 + n + 2 = 192
n = 63
Final Solutions: 63, 64, and 65
Example 2:
You return a book that is 5 days overdue.
Including a previously unpaid overdue balance of
$1.30, your new balance is $2.05. What is the
fine for a book that is one day overdue?
Variable: n = fine for one day overdue
Equation: 1.30 + 5n = 2.05
Final Solution: n = $.15
Example 4:
Johnny has three more than twice the number
of stickers that Jane has. If all together, they
have 51 stickers, how many does each person
have?
Variables: j = Jane’s stickers
2j + 3 = Johnny’s stickers
Equation: j + 2j + 3 = 51
3j = 48
j = 16
Solution: Jane’s stickers: 16
Johnny’s stickers: 35
Example 6:
Peter has $25 more than Jacob. Their friend
Mike has $14 less than Jacob. The total amount
of money they have is $272. How much does
each boy have?
Variables: j = Jacob’s money
j + 25 = Peter’s money
j – 14 = Mike’s money
Equation: j + j + 25 + j – 14 = 272
J = $87
Final Solutions:
Jacob: $87 Peter: $112
Mike: $73