How to Solve Algebraic Word Problems

Jackie's mother is 28 years old.  This is eight more than 4 times Jackie's age.  How old is Jackie?

• 5

• 9

• 6

• 4

Five more than twice a number is -25. What is the number?

• -15

• 15

• 10

• -10

Rafiq threw a baseball 84 miles per hour.  That is 22 miles per hour less than twice the speed that Jonah threw it.  How fast did Jonah throw the baseball?

• 53

• 42

• 62

• 40

A baseball bat costs $41.  This is $9 more than four times the wholesale cost of the bat.  Find the bat's wholesale cost. 

• $8

• $12.50

• $19.25

• $50

On vacation you bought 3 identical t-shirts and a hat.  The hat cost $21 and you spent $60 total. What was the cost of each t-shirt?

• $13

• $12

• $15

• $10

In his DVD collection, Domingo has eight more than twice as many animated movies as action movies.  He has 24 animated movies.  How many action movies does he have?

• 8

• 20

• 6

• 16

Kenneth has g gumballs. Maggie has 29 fewer gumballs than Kenneth. Choose the expression that shows how many gumballs Maggie has.

• g+29

• g-29

• 29g

• g ÷ 29

Translate the statement into an equation:
Five less than a number is 6

• n - 5 = 6

• 5 - n = 6

Translate this sentence into an equation. 72 is the product of 8 and Steve's age. Use the variable h to represent Steve's age.

• 72 = 8 + h

• 72 = 8h

• 72 = 8 - h

• 72 = 8/h

Translate this phrase into an algebraic expression.
24 more than Vivian's test score. 
Use d to represent Vivian's test score.

• 24d

• d - 24

• d + 24

• d/24