2 step equation word problems

​Writing 2 Step Equation from a Word Problem

​1) Identify the total
2) Identify the variable
3) Identify the rate
4) Identify the constant
5) Put the equation together and solve

The steps to creating the equation

Step 1: Identify the "total"

What does the equation equal (what is on the right side of the equal sign)

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

Multiple Choice

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

What is the "total"?

• $35

• $0.50

• $52

• The unknown

  (what we are looking for)

Step 2: Identify the Variable

What are we looking for...the unknown. (Hereafter known as x)

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

Multiple Choice

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

What is the unkown?

• The service fee

• How much each text cost

• Number of texts sent

• Total bill for the month

Step 3: Identify the Rate

look for the "per", "each", "every"....ect (going to multiply or divide our x)

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

Multiple Choice

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

What is the rate?

• $35

• $0.50

• $52

• The unknown

  (what we are looking for)

Step 4: Identify the Constant

What does not change...is the same every time (add to or take from our x)

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

Multiple Choice

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

What is the constant?

• $35

• $0.50

• $52

• The unknown

  (what we are looking for)

Step 4: Put the equation together and solve

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

Math Response

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

Type the equation you need to solve the question

USE x for variable

Type answer here

Correct Answer: 0.5x+35=52

Deg^°

Rad

Math Response

Juan’s cell phone company charges $35 a month for phone service plus $0.50 for each text message. How many text messages does Juan send in a month if his bill was $52?

Solve the equation (number only for answer)

Type answer here

Correct Answer: 34

Deg^°

Rad

Multiple Choice

Jim paid a gym membership fee of $50, plus $20 per month.  Jim has paid a total of $290 to the gym.  Which equation matches this situation?

• 50 + 20m = 290
• 20 + 50m = 290
• 50 + 20 = m
• 50m - 20 = 290

Multiple Choice

A bag of candy was shared equally among 4 friends.  Each friend gave away 7 pieces of candy.  They each ended up with 8 pieces of candy.  

What does the words "shared equally" tell you to do to the variable?

• Add

• Subtract

• Multiply

• Divide

Multiple Choice

A bag of candy was shared equally among 4 friends.  Each friend gave away 7 pieces of candy.  They each ended up with 8 pieces of candy.  Write an equation to find how much candy was in the bag at the beginning.

• $$\frac{c}{7}-4=8$$

• $$\frac{c}{4}+7=8$$

• $$\frac{4}{c}-7=8$$

• $$\frac{c}{4}-7=8$$

Math Response

Natalie is a softball coach. She has a pitching private lesson with Kasey. Kasey's mom pays Natalie $11 per hour plus a $6 tip. Write an equation that represents this scenario if the total cost was $39.

(use x for variable)

Type answer here

Correct Answer: 11x+6=39

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Math Response

Jill sold half of her comic books and then bought sixteen more. She now has 36. Write an equation to find out how many comic books she started with.

Use x as the variable

Type answer here

Correct Answer: \frac{x}{2}+16=36

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Multiple Choice

Madison bought pizza and soda for a party. If she spent $12.57 on the sodas and $10.95 for each pizza, how many pizzas did she buy if her total is $89.22?

• 10.95x + 12.57 = 89.22

• 12.57x + 10.95 = 89.22

• 89.22x -10.95 = 12.57

• 12.57 + 10.95 = 89.22

Math Response

Jennifer invites her friends over for a party. Her mother buys a value pack of party favors. She removes 2 damaged pieces from the entire lot and divides the rest equally in 10 goody bags. If each bag contains 7 party favors, how many party favors were there initially?

(use x as the variable)

Type answer here

Correct Answer: \frac{\left(x-2\right)}{10}=7

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