Equations and Variables: Matchstick Math Challenge

A box contains x number of matches. If you add 15 more matches, the total becomes 45. What equation can you write to find x?

• x - 15 = 45

• x + 15 = 30

• x + 15 = 45

• x + 15 = 60

Sarah has y matches. If she gives 10 matches to her friend, she will have 25 matches left. Write an equation to find y.

• 20

• 35

• 40

• 30

Tom has 3 times as many matches as his brother. If his brother has z matches, how can you express the number of matches Tom has?

• 3z

• 2z

• z

• 4z

A matchbox holds 20 matches. If you have m matchboxes, how many matches do you have in total? Write the equation for this situation.

• total matches = 20 * m

• total matches = 10 * m

• total matches = 20 + m

• total matches = m + 20

If you have 50 matches and you use p matches for a project, how can you express the number of matches left?

• 50 * p

• 50 - p

• 50 + p

• p - 50

Lily bought 30 matches and then found 12 more. If she gives away g matches, how can you write an equation to find out how many matches she has left?

• 12 + g

• 42 - g

• 30 - g

• 42 + g

A pack of matches costs $2. If you buy p packs, how can you express the total cost?

• p + 2

• 2 + p

• 2 * p

• p * 2 + 1

If a matchstick is 6 inches long and you have n matchsticks, how can you write an equation to find the total length of all matchsticks?

• total length = n - 6

• total length = 6 / n

• total length = 6 + n

• total length = 6 * n

You have 100 matches and you want to divide them equally among d friends. Write an equation to find out how many matches each friend will get.

• matches_per_friend = 100 * d

• matches_per_friend = 100 / d

• matches_per_friend = 100 - d

• matches_per_friend = 100 + d

If you start with 80 matches and lose l matches, how can you express the number of matches you have left?

• 80 - 80

• 80 + l

• 80 - l

• l - 80