Missing Variables in Equations

Missing Variables in Equations

Let's look at this story problem:

Natalie picked 38 strawberries on Monday. She picked some more on Tuesday and had a total of 60 strawberries. How many strawberries did she pick on Tuesday?

Natalie picked 38 strawberries on Monday. She picked some more on Tuesday and had a total of 60 strawberries. How many strawberries did she pick on Tuesday?

• Write an equation to show how to find the number of strawberries, s, Natalie picked on Tuesday.

• Solve the equation to find the number of strawberries Natalie found on Tuesday.

Let's try another one. This time, try writing the equation by yourself!

Seth gathered 83 blueberries to use for baking! He used some to make blueberry muffins and had 17 leftover. How many blueberries did he use to make blueberry muffins?

• Write an equation to show how to find the number of blueberries, b, Seth used to make muffins.

• Solve the equation to find the number of blueberries Seth used to make muffins.

Multiple Select

Mrs. Reyes has 26 students in her class. If there are 14 girls in her class, how many boys are there?

Choose the TWO equations you could use to find the number of boys, b, in her class.

• 26 - 14 = b

• 26 + 14 = b

• 14 - b = 26

• 14 + b = 26

Multiple Choice

There are 7 boxes of pencils in the drawer. Each box has 12 pencils in it. How many pencils are there altogether?

Choose the equation that correctly shows how to find the total number of pencils, p.

• 7 + 12 = p

• 7 + p = 12

• 7 x 12 = p

• 7 x p = 12

Multiple Choice

A baker has containers to hold flour. Each container holds 5 cups of flour. She has a total of 45 cups of flour. Write an equation to find the number of containers, c, the baker has.

**Write the equation on your white board.

• 45 + 5 = c

• 5 x c = 45

• c - 5 = 45

• 45 - c = 5

Open Ended

There are 8 teams at a softball tournament. Each team gets an equal number of water bottles. There are 96 water bottles to be split evenly among the teams. Write an equation to find the number of water bottles each team gets. Use w to represent the number of water bottles.

*Write the equation on your white board.