Writing Equations from Word Problems

Mallory 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

Jen wants to buy a new car for $18500. She pays $2500 at signing and wants to pay $250 per month. How many months until it is paid off?

• 18500 + 2500 = 250x

• 2500 -250x = 18500

• 250x + 2500 = 18500

• 2500(250)x = 18500

Olivia bought a notebook for $12.50 and 9 pens. If her total was $43.73, how much was each pen?

• 12.5x +9 = 43.73

• 73.43 = 12.5x + 9

• 12.5 - 9x = 43.73

• 43.73 = 12.5 + 9x

Alex and 2 friends go to the movies. A ticket costs $7.75. They decide to split the cost of the popcorn. If they each spent $10.25, how much did the popcorn cost?

• (x/2) - 7.75 = 10.25

• 7.75 + (x/2) = 10.25

• 10.25 + 7.75 = 3x

• 7.75 + (x/3) = 10.25

Thomas is thinking of a number.  If he triples his number and subtracts 13, the result is 305.  What is the number Thomas is thinking of?

• x + 3 - 13 = 305
• 3x + 13 = 305
• 3x - 13 = 305
• x - 13(3) = 305

Your cell phone bill is $21.20.  The company charges $0.25 per call.  

• 0.25c = 21.20
• c - 0.25 = 21.20
• c + 0.25 = 21.20
• 0.25 ÷ c = 21.20

Penelope is going to the carnival to ride the rides. It costs $20 to get into the carnival and ride tickets are $0.50 each. Write an equation that represents the number of tickets (t) that can be purchased if Penelope plans to spend $35.

• .50t + 20 = 35
• .50t = 35
• .50 + 20t = 35 
• .50t +35 = 20

You and your sister saved $120 all together.  You saved $32.65.  Let s = amount sister saved.  Write an equation to find how much your sister saved.

• 32.65s = 120
• 32.65 - s = 120
• s + 32.65 = 120
• 32.65 ÷ s = 120

Five less than the quotient of a number and 3 is -7.

• 5 - x/3 = -7
• x/3 - 5 = -7
• x/3 + 5 = 7

Translate the sentence into an equation
Four more than three times a number is 19.

• 3x - 4 = 19
• 4 + 3x = 19
• 7x = 19
• not enough information