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Algebra Word Problems

The document provides 10 examples of solving algebra word problems. The examples cover a variety of problem types including lost/gained, distributive property, discounts, ratios, systems of equations, and area of rectangles. Solving the problems involves setting up equations from written descriptions and solving using algebraic techniques like factoring and elimination. The goal is to give skills for solving different algebra word problems involving one or more steps.

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Cristie Marcelino
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86 views

Algebra Word Problems

The document provides 10 examples of solving algebra word problems. The examples cover a variety of problem types including lost/gained, distributive property, discounts, ratios, systems of equations, and area of rectangles. Solving the problems involves setting up equations from written descriptions and solving using algebraic techniques like factoring and elimination. The goal is to give skills for solving different algebra word problems involving one or more steps.

Uploaded by

Cristie Marcelino
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Algebra word problems

Example of algebra word problems are numerous. The goal of this unit is to give you the skills that
you need to solve a variety of these algebra word problems

Example #1:

A football team lost 5 yards and then gained 9. What is the team's progress?

Solution

For lost, use negative. For gain, use positive. 

Progress = -5 + 9 = 4 yards

Example #2:

Use distributive property to solve the problem below:

Maria bought 10 notebooks and 5 pens costing 2 dollars each.How much did Maria pay?

Solution

2 × (10 + 5) = 2 × 10 + 2 × 5 = 20 + 10 = 30 dollars 

Example #3:

A customer pays 50 dollars for a coffee maker after a discount of 20 dollars

What is the original price of the coffe maker?

Solution

Let x be the original price. 

x - 20 = 50

x - 20 + 20 = 50 + 20

x + 0 = 70

x = 70

Example #4:

Half a number plus 5 is 11.What is the number?

Solution
Let x be the number. Always replace "is" with an equal sign

(1/2)x + 5 = 11

(1/2)x + 5 - 5 = 11 - 5

(1/2)x = 6

2 × (1/2)x = 6 × 2

x = 12

Example #5:

The sum of two consecutive even integers is 26. What are the two numbers?

Solution

Let 2n be the first even integer and let 2n + 2 be the second integer

2n + 2n + 2 = 26

4n + 2 = 26

4n + 2 - 2 = 26 - 2

4n = 24

n=6

So the first even integer is 2n = 2 × 6 = 12 and the second is 12 + 2 = 14

Below are more complicated algebra word problems

Example #6:

The ratio of two numbers is 5 to 1. The sum is 18. What are the two numbers?

Solution

Let x be the first number. Let y be the second number

x/y=5/1

x + y = 18

Using x / y = 5 / 1, we get x = 5y after doing cross multiplication


Replacing x = 5y into x + y = 18, we get 5y + y = 18

6y = 18

y=3

x = 5y = 5 × 3 = 15

As you can see, 15/3 = 5, so ratio is correct and 3 + 15 = 18, so the sum is correct.

Example #7: Algebra word problems can be as complicated as example #7. Study it carefully!

Peter has six times as many dimes as quarters in her piggy bank. She has 21 coins in her piggy
bank totaling $2.55

How many of each type of coin does she have?

Solution

Let x be the number of quarters. Let 6x be the number of dimes

Since one quarter equals 25 cents, x quarters equals x × 25 cents or 25x cents

Since one dime equals 10 cents, 6x dimes equals 6x × 10 cents or 60x cents

Since one 1 dollar equals 100 cents, 2.55 dollars equals 2.55 × 100 = 255 cents

Putting it all together, 25x cents + 60x cents = 255 cents

85x cents = 255 cents

85x cents / 85 cents = 255 cents / 85 cents

x=3

6x = 6 × 3 = 18

Therefore Peter has 3 quarters and 18 dimes

Example #8:

The area of a rectangle is x2 + 4x -12. What are the dimensions of the rectangle (length and width)?

Solution

The main idea is to factor x2 + 4x -12


Since -12 = -2 × 6 and -2 + 6 = 4

x2 + 4x -12 = ( x + -2) × ( x + 6)

Since the length is usually longer, lenth = x + 6 and width = x + -2

Example #9: A must know how when solving algebra word problems

The area of a rectangle is 24 cm2. The width is two less than the length. What is the length and width
of the rectangle? 

Solution

Let x be the length and let x - 2 be the width

Area = lenth × width = x × ( x - 2) = 24

x × ( x - 2) = 24

x2 + -2x = 24

x2 + -2x - 24 = 0

Since -24 = 4 × -6 and 4 + -6 = -2, we get:

(x + 4) × ( x + -6) = 0

This leads to two equations to solve:

x + 4 = 0 and x + -6 = 0

x + 4 = 0 gives x = -4. Reject this value since a dimension cannot be negative 

x + -6 = 0 gives x = 6

Therefore, length = 6 and width = x - 2 = 6 - 2 = 4

Example #10:

The sum of two numbers is 16. The difference is 4. What are the two numbers?

Let x be the first number. Ley y be the second number

x + y = 16

x-y=4

Solution
Let x be the first number. Ley y be the second number

x + y = 16

x-y=4

Solve the system of equations by elimination

Adding the left sides and the right sides gives:

x + x + y + -y = 16 + 4

2x = 20

x = 10

Since x + y = 16, 10 + y = 16

10 + y = 16

10 - 10 + y = 16 - 10

y=6

The numbers are 10 and 6

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