ALGEBRA

Name
Lesson 2.12
Solve Multistep Problems Using Equations
Essential Question How can you represent and solve multistep problems Operations and Algebraic
using equations? Thinking—4.OA.A.3
MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES
MP2, MP4, MP7
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Unlock the
the Problem
Problem

Crismari’s computer has 3 hard drives with 64 gigabytes

of space each and 2 hard drives with 16 gigabytes of • Underline the important
space each. The files on her computer use 78 gigabytes of information.
space. How much hard drive space does her computer have left?

One Way Use multiple single-step equations.

STEP 1 Find how much hard drive space is on 3 hard drives
with 64 gigabytes of space each.

64 64 64 3 hard drives with 64 gigabytes. 3 × 64 = n

n Total space on 3 hard drives with 64 gigabytes. _=n

STEP 2 Find how much hard drive space is on 2 hard drives
with 16 gigabytes of space.
2 × 16 = p
16 16 2 hard drives with 16 gigabytes.

p
_=p
Total space on 2 hard drives with 16 gigabytes.

STEP 3 Find the total hard drive space on the computer.

Total space on Total space on 192 + 32 = A
64-gigabyte 16-gigabyte
hard drives. hard drives. _=A

192 32

A Total space on computer.

STEP 4 The files use 78 gigabytes of space. Find how much

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hard drive space the computer has left.

space left space used 224 – 78 = y

_=y
y 78

224 Total hard drive space on the computer.

So, Crismari has _ gigabytes of hard drive space left on her computer.

Chapter 2 131
 Order of Operations The Order of Operations is a special set
of rules that gives the order in which calculations are done in an
expression. First, multiply and divide from left to right. Then, add and
subtract from left to right.

Another Way Use one multistep equation.

total space 3 × 64 + 2 × 16 – 78 = n
64 64 64 16 16
on computer
_ +_ × _ – _ = n
78
n _+_–_=n
space
used space left _–_=n
_=n

MATH
M
Share
Share and
and Show
hhow
Sh BOARD
B

1. Use the order of operations to find the value of n.

5 × 17 + 5 × 20 – 32 = n

_+_×_–_=n First, multiply 5 × 17.

_+_–_=n Next, multiply 5 × 20.

_–_=n Then, add the two products.

_=n Finally, subtract to find n.

Find the value of n.

2. 3 × 22 + 7 × 41 – 24 = n 3. 4 × 34 + 6 × 40 – 66 = n

_=n _=n
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

4. 2 × 62 + 8 × 22 – 53 = n 5. 6 × 13 + 9 × 34 – 22 = n

_=n _=n
Math MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES 2
Talk
Use Reasoning If you solve
6 × 3 + 2 by adding before
multiplying, will you get the
132 same answer? Explain.
 Name

On
On Your
Your Own
Own
Find the value of n.

6. 8 × 42 + 3 × 59 – 62 = n 7. 6 × 27 + 2 × 47 – 83 = n

_=n _=n
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OqnakdlRnkuhmf¤@ookhb`shnmr

8. DEEPERMaggie has 3 binders with 25 stamps in

each binder. She has 5 binders with 24 baseball cards
WRITE Math
Show Your Work
in each binder. If she gives 35 stamps to a friend, how
many stamps and cards does she have left?

9.
MATHEMATICAL
PRACTICE 1
Evaluate Maddox has 4 boxes with 32 marbles in
each box. He has 7 boxes with 18 shells in each box. If he gets
20 marbles from a friend, how many marbles and shells does
he have?

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10. SMARTER The soccer team sells 54 bagels with cream
cheese for $2 each and 36 muffins for $1 each during a bake
sale. The coach uses the money to buy socks for the 14 players.
The socks cost $6 per pair. How much money does the coach
have left? Explain how you found your answer.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Chapter 2 • Lesson 12 133

 MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES ANALYZE
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11. SMARTERWhat’s the Error? Dominic

has 5 books with 12 postcards in each book.
He has 4 boxes with 20 coins in each box.
If he gives 15 post cards to a friend, how
many postcards and coins does he have?

Dominic drew this model. Dominic used these steps to solve.

total postcards 5 × 12 + 4 × 20 – 15 = n
12 12 12 12 12 20 20 20 20
and coins 60 + 4 × 20 – 15 = n
15
n 64 × 20 – 15 = n
postcards 1,280 – 15 = n
postcards and coins left
given away
1,265 = n

Look at the steps Dominic used to solve Use the correct steps to solve the problem.
this problem. Find and describe his error.

WRITE M
t Show Your Work

Math

© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

So, there are _ postcards and coins

left.

134
 Practice and Homework
Name
Lesson 2.12
Solve Multistep Problems Using Equations
COMMON CORE STANDARD—4.OA.A.3
Use the four operations with whole numbers to
solve problems.
Find the value of n.

1. 4 × 27 + 5 × 34 − 94 = n 2. 7 × 38 + 3 × 45 − 56 = n

108 + 5 × 34 − 94 = n

108 + 170 − 94 = n

278 − 94 = n

184 = n _ =n

3. 6 × 21 + 7 × 29 − 83 = n 4. 9 × 19 + 2 × 57 − 75 = n

_ =n _ =n

Problem
Problem Solving
Solving

5. A bakery has 4 trays with 16 muffins on each 6. Katy bought 5 packages of stickers with 25
tray. The bakery has 3 trays of cupcakes with stickers in each package. She also bought 3
24 cupcakes on each tray. If 15 cupcakes are boxes of markers with 12 markers in each
sold, how many muffins and cupcakes are box. If she receives 8 stickers from a friend,
left? how many stickers and markers does Katy
have now?
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

7. WRITE Math Write a word problem that could be solved

by writing and solving a multistep equation. Then solve your
problem.

Chapter 2 135
 TEST
Lesson Check (4.OA.A.3)
PREP
1. What is the value of n? 2. What is the value of n?

9 × 23 + 3 × 39 − 28 = n 4 × 28 + 6 × 17 − 15 = n

Spiral Review (4.OA.A.1, 4.NBT.B.5)

3. Write an expression that shows how you can 4. Write an equation that represents this
multiply 9 × 475 using expanded form and comparison sentence.
the Distributive Property.
32 is 8 times as many as 4

5. Between which pair of numbers is the exact 6. Write an expression that shows how to use
product of 379 and 8? the halving and doubling strategy to find
28 × 50.

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