Multi-Step Problems with Letter for Unknown

Jim has one dollar.  He spends 16 cents on a pencil.  Jim's dad gives him five dollars for mowing the grass. Write an equation with a letter for the unknown to find out how much money Jim has now.

• 100¢ -16¢  ⁼ m

• m ⁼1 dollar

• $1.00 - $.16 + $5.00 ⁼ m

• 5 +1 + 16⁼ m

Braxton is training to become a Jedi Master. For his training, he needs to take time to meditate. In his first 4 sessions of training, he meditates for 11 minutes each session. For his last 2 sessions, he meditates for 13 minutes one session and 15 minutes the other session. How many total minutes does Braxton meditate for? Write an equation to solve this problem using the letter c and label your answer. (Ex. of what answer could look like: equation: (3 x 9) + 3 = b; answer: 33 minutes)

What does a letter such as b represent in an equation?

• The beginning of the equation

• The unknown/what we are looking for

• The middle of the equation

• The known/what we already know

Mrs. Hernandez has $19 left in her wallet after spending $56 at Target. Which equation can be used to find t, the amount of money Mrs.Hernandez had in her wallet before going to Target.

• 56 - t = 19

• t - 56 = 19

• 19 - t = 56

• t + 56 = 19

An art teacher had 237 colored pencils left over from last year. This year, he bought 26 boxes of colored pencils that had 16 pencils in each. He also bought 15 boxes that had 54 pencils in each. Finally, when he was sorting the pencils, 19 rolled under the cabinet and were lost.

Solve the following equation to determine c, the number of colored pencils the art teacher has now.

c = 237 + [ (26 ∙ 16) + (15 ∙ 54) ] – 19

• 2,179

• 187,652

• 1,444

• 183,095

A soccer coach bought 4 boxes of water bottles for the players to drink during the soccer game. There are 12 water bottles inside of each box.

During the first half of the game, the players drank 15 bottles of water and during the second half of the game, the players drank 16 bottles of water.

Which equation could be used to find w , the total number of water bottles left after the game.

• w = (4 x 12) x (15 + 16)

• w = (4 x 12) - (15 + 16)

• w = (4 x 12) + (15 - 16)

• w = (4 + 12) - (15 - 16)

Kevin is building a fence around the perimeter of his backyard. The perimeter of the backyard is 78 feet. Each section of fence is 6 feet long and cost $32. Which equation can Kevin use to find f, the cost of the sections of fence he needs for the backyard?

• 78 ÷ (32 x 6) = f

• (78 ÷ 6) x 32= f

• (32 x 6 ) x 78 = f

• 78 ÷ (32 ÷ 6) = f

At Lincoln Elementary School, the 5th grade students have a total of 325 pets. Of these pets, 250 are NOT cats. Which equation could be used to determine the number of pets that are c, cats?

• 325 + 250 = c

• 325 - 250 = c

• 325 x 250 = c

• 325 + 325 = c