How To Solve Answer Key

Word Problems in
Algebra

1) B

Explanation:

Let x be Carla’s age in the present.

Since John is 3 years older than Carla, we can express John’s age as x + 3.

This means that we can represent Carla’s age 3 years ago as x - 3 while John’s age 3 years
ago as x + 3 - 3 = x.

To summarize:

Present Past (3 years ago)

Carla’s age x x-3

John’s age x+3 x

Sum 45

The problem states that the sum of Carla’s age and John’s age 3 years ago was 45.

Thus, we can form our equation as follows:

Carla’s age (3 years ago) + John’s age (3 years ago) = 45

(x - 3) + (x) = 45

Now, let us solve the resulting linear equation above:

(x - 3) + (x) = 45

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 How To Solve Answer Key
Word Problems in
Algebra

2x - 3 = 45

2x = 3 + 45 Transposition method

2x = 48

2𝑥 48
2
= 2
Dividing both sides of the equation by 2

x = 24

Since x represents Carla’s age in the present (look at our table above), then Carla is 24 years
old in the present.

2) D

Explanation:

Let n represent the unknown number in the given problem.

Twice that unknown number can be represented by 2n (since “twice” means “multiply by 2”).

Now, the sum of twice the unknown number (2n) and 72 is 88. So, we can form our equation as
follows:

2n + 72 = 88

Let us solve for the value of n in the equation we have derived above:

2n + 72 = 88

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 How To Solve Answer Key
Word Problems in
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2n = -72 + 88 Transposition method

2n = 16

2𝑛 16
2
= 2
Dividing both sides of the equation by 2

n=8

Thus, the value of the unknown number is 8.

3) B

Explanation:

Let x represent the smallest integer in the list of five consecutive integers that Bea thought.

Since the integers are consecutive, it follows that the second integer in the list should be x + 1,
the third integer can be represented by x + 2, the fourth by x + 3, and the fifth by x + 4.

The problem states that the sum of the five consecutive integers that Bea thought is 165. Thus,
we can form our equation as follows:

(first integer) + (second integer) + (third integer) + (fourth integer) + (fifth integer) = 165

x + (x + 1) + (x + 2) + (x + 3) + (x + 4) = 165

Simplifying the linear equation we have derived above:

5x + 10 = 165

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 How To Solve Answer Key
Word Problems in
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5x = -10 + 165 Ttransposition method

5x = 155

5𝑥 155
5
= 5
Dividing both sides by 5

x = 31

Since x represents the smallest integer in the list, then 31 is the first and smallest integer. Since
Bea’s numbers are consecutive numbers, then the second integer would be 32, the third integer
is 33, the fourth integer is 34, and the fifth integer is 35.

Hence, the largest integer in the list is 35.

4) A

Explanation:

Let t represent the number of hours it takes for Alicia and Bela to finish cleaning the room.

The problem states that Alicia alone can finish cleaning the room in 3 hours. On the other hand,
Bela can finish cleaning the same room in 4 hours.

In this kind of work problem, our general formula is:

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 How To Solve Answer Key
Word Problems in
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We can modify the formula as follows:

1 1
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘
+ 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘

1
= 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑒𝑙𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑘

Using the given values in the problem:

1 1 1
3
+ 4
= 𝑡

Let us solve for the value of t in the equation above:

1 1 1
3
+ 4
= 𝑡

First, eliminate or remove the denominators. To do so, multiply both sides of the equation by the
LCD.

The LCD is 12t so we multiply both sides of the equation by 12t:

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 How To Solve Answer Key
Word Problems in
Algebra

1 1 1
12t(
3
+ 4
) = 12𝑡( 𝑡
)

4t + 3t = 12

Let us continue solving for the value of t in the resulting equation above.

4t + 3t = 12

7t = 12

7𝑡 12
7
= 7
Dividing both sides of the equation by 7

t = 12/7

The computed value of t is 12/7. If we write this improper fraction to its mixed number form, we
have 1 5/7 .

Thus, if Alicia and Bela decide to work together, they can finish cleaning the room in 1 5/7
hours.

5) B

Explanation:

Let x be the number of pigs that Mang Tasyo can take care of.

Since the number of chickens in the farm should be twice the number of pigs, we can express
the number of chickens as 2x.

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 How To Solve Answer Key
Word Problems in
Algebra

The total number of chickens and pigs in the farm can be represented by x + 2x.

The problem states that there must be at most (“at most” means “less than or equal to”) 1200
animals in the farm.

Hence, we have this inequality:

x + 2x < 1200

Let us solve the inequality we have derived:

x + 2x < 1200

3x < 1200

3𝑥 1200
3
< 3

x < 400

The solution set we have obtained is x < 400. This means that any value less than or equal to
400 will satisfy the inequality.

Recall that x represents the number of pigs in the farm. Based on our computation on the
inequality above, the possible number of pigs in the farm can be any number less than or equal
to 400. This implies that the maximum number (or highest number) of pigs in the farm should be
400 to meet the given conditions in the problem.

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