WORD PROBLEMS ANSWR KEY.
1. Twice a number is 500 more than six times the number. What is the number?
Representation: Let x = the number
Equation: 2x = 6x + 500
Solution:
2x = 6x + 500
2x – 6x = 6x – 6x + 500
-4x = 500
−4𝑥 500
=
−4 −4
x = -125
Conclusion: Therefore, the number is -125.
2. If 6 times a number is decreased by 6, the result is the same as when 3 times the
number is increased by 12. Find the number.
Representation: Let x = the number
Equation: 6x - 6 = 3x + 12
Solution:
6x - 6 = 3x + 12
6x – 6 + 6 - 3x = 3x – 3x + 12 + 6
6x – 3x = 12 + 6
3x = 18
3𝑥 18
=
𝟑 3
x=6
Conclusion: Therefore, the number is 6.
3. One weekend, Bill earned 3 times as much as Jim. Tom earned $5 more than Jim.
In all, they earned $60. How much did each earn?
Representation: Let x = Jim earned
3x = Bill earned
x + 5 = Tom earned
Equation: x +3x + (x+5) = 60
Solution: x + 3x + (x+5) = 60
5x+5 = 60 Jim earned = x = $11
5x + 5 – 5 = 60 – 5 Bill earned = 3x = 3(11) = $33
5x = 55 Tom earned = x+5 = 11+5 = $16
5𝑥 55
=
5 5
x = 11
Conclusion: Therefore, Jim earned $11, Bill earned $33, and Tom
earned $16.
4. In 8 years, Jamie will be three times as old as she is now. How old is she now?
Representation: Let x = Jamie’s age now
Equation: x + 8 = 3x
Solution: x + 8 = 3x
x - 3x + 8 - 8 = 3x – 3x - 8
-2x = -8
−2𝑥 −8
= −2
−2
x=4
Conclusion: Therefore, Jamie’s age now is 4 years old.
5. An employee earns $2 for every magazine sold and a salary of $10 a week. How
many magazines will the employee need to earn at least $40 in one week?
Representation: Let x = the number of magazines sold
2x = for every magazine sold at $2
Equation: 2x + 10 ≥ 40
Solution: 2x + 10 ≥ 40
2x + 10 – 10 ≥ 40 – 10
2x ≥ 30
2𝑥 30
≥
2 2
x ≥ 15
Conclusion: Therefore, the employee needs to sell at least 15 magazines in
a week to earn at least $40.
6. Mr. Price deposited $170 in his bank. The number of $5 bills was 3 times the
number of $10 bills, and the number of $1 bills was 30 more than the number of
$5 bills. How many bills of each type did he deposit?
Representation: Let x = the number of $10 bills
3x = the number of $5 bills
3x + 30 = the number of $1 bill Number of $10 bills = x = 5 bills
Equation: $10(x) + $5(3x) + $1(3x+30) = $170 Number of $5 bills = 3x = 3(5)
= 15 bills
Solution: $10(x) + $5(3x) + $1(3x+30) = $170
Number of $1 bill = 3x+10 = 3(5) + 30
10x + 15x + (3x+30) = 170
= 45 bills
28x+30 = 170 $10(x) + $5(3x) + $1(3x+30) = $170
$10(5) + $5(3(5)) + $1(3(5)+30) = $170
28x + 30 - 30 = 170 – 30
$50 + $5(15) + $1(45) = $170
$50 + $75 + $45 = $170
$170 = $170
28x = 140
28𝑥 140
=
28 28
x=5
Conclusion: Therefore, there are 5 bills of $10 bills, 15 bills of $5 bills, and 45 bills
of $1 bill that Mr. Price deposited in his bank.
7. The perimeter of the triangle is 73 inches. If the second side is 5 inches longer
than twice the first side, and the third side is 4 inches less than three times the first
side, how long is each side?
Representation: Let P = the perimeter of the triangle
P = 73 inches
x = the first side
2x + 5 = the second side
3x – 4 = the third side
Equation: P = S1 + S2 + S3
73 = x + (2x+5) + (3x-4)
Solution: P = S1 + S2 + S3
73 = x + (2x+5) + (3x-4)
73 = 6x+1 the first side = x = 12 inches
73 - 1 = 6x + 1 – 1 the second side = 2x+5 = 2(12) + 5
= 29 inches
72 = 6x
the third side = 3x-4 = 3(12) – 4
72 6𝑥
= = 32 inches
6 6
12 = x
x = 12
Conclusion: Therefore, the measures of the sides of the triangle are 12
inches for the first side, 29 inches for the second side, and 32 inches for the third
side.
8. A rectangular playground is enclosed by 440 feet of fencing. If the length of the
playground is 20 feet less than 3 times its width. Find the dimensions of the
playground.
Representation: Let P = the enclosed fencing (perimeter)
P = 440 ft
w=x
l = 3x - 20
Equation: P = 2(l+w)
440 = 2 [x + (3x-20)]
Solution: P = 2(l+w) w = x = 60 ft
440 = 2 [x + (3x-20)] l = 3x-20 = 3(60) – 20
440 = 2(4x-20) = 160 ft
440 = 8x – 40 P = 2(l+w)
440 = 2 [x + (3x-20)]
440 + 40 = 8x – 40 + 40
440 = 2 [60 + (3(60)-20)
480 = 8x 440 = 2(60+160)
480 8𝑥 440 = 2(220)
=
8 8
440 = 440
60 = x
x = 60
Conclusion: Therefore, the dimensions of the playground are 60 ft for the
width and 160 ft for the length.
9. The total ages of three students are 38. If the youngest is 7 years younger than
the oldest student, and the middle student is 4 years older than the youngest
student, how old is each student?
Representation: Let x = the youngest student’s age
x + 4 = the middle student’s age
x + 7 = the oldest student’s age
Equation: x + (x+4) + (x+7) = 38
youngest student’s age = x = 9 years old
Solution: x + (x+4) + (x+7) = 38
middle student’s age = x+4
3x + 11 = 38 =9+4
3x + 11 - 11 = 38 – 11 = 13 years old
oldest student’s age = x+7
3x = 27
=9+7
3𝑥 27
= = 16 years old
𝑥 3
x=9
Therefore, the age of the youngest, middle, and oldest student are 9 years
old, 13 years old, and 16 years old, respectively.
10. The sum of the three consecutive integers is -24. What are the integers?
Representation: Let x = the first negative integer
x + 1 = the second negative integer
x + 2 = the third negative integer
Equation: x + (x+1) + (x+2) = -24
the first negative integer = x = -9
Solution: x + (x+1) + (x+2) = -24 the second negative integer = x+1
3x + 3 = -24 = -9 + 1
= -8
3x + 3 - 3 = -24 – 3
the third negative integer = x + 2
= -9 + 2
= -7
3x = -27
3𝑥 −27
=
3 3
x = -9
Conclusion: Therefore, the three consecutive integers are -9, -8, and -7.
