Solving Word Problems: Identifying Variables & Equations

A farmer has chickens and cows. If the total number of animals is 30 and there are 10 more chickens than cows, how can you set up equations to find the number of each type of animal?

• 10 cows and 20 chickens

• 15 cows and 15 chickens

• 5 cows and 25 chickens

• 20 cows and 10 chickens

In a school, there are twice as many boys as girls. If the total number of students is 60, how would you identify the variables and write an equation to find the number of boys and girls?

• Boys: 50, Girls: 10

• Boys: 20, Girls: 40

• Boys: 30, Girls: 30

• Boys: 40, Girls: 20

A bookstore sells fiction and non-fiction books. If the total number of books is 150 and there are 20 more fiction books than non-fiction books, how can you express this situation with equations?

• x + (x + 10) = 150 and 2x + 10 = 150

• x + x = 150 and x + 20 = 150

• x + (x - 20) = 150 and 2x - 20 = 150

• x + (x + 20) = 150 and 2x + 20 = 150

Maria has a collection of stamps. If she has 5 more than twice the number of rare stamps, and the total is 35 stamps, how would you set up the equations to find the number of rare stamps?

• 8

• 12

• 10

• 15

A car rental company has sedans and SUVs. If the total number of cars is 50 and there are 10 more SUVs than sedans, how can you write equations to determine the number of each type of car?

• 15 sedans and 35 SUVs

• 20 sedans and 30 SUVs

• 30 sedans and 20 SUVs

• 25 sedans and 25 SUVs

In a fruit basket, there are apples and oranges. If there are 3 times as many apples as oranges and the total number of fruits is 48, how would you identify the variables and write the equations?

• Let x = total number of fruits, then number of apples = x/3; total fruits equation: x = 48.

• Let o = number of apples, then number of oranges = 3o; total fruits equation: 3o + o = 48.

• Let a = number of apples, then number of oranges = 3a; total fruits equation: a + 3a = 48.

• Let o = number of oranges, then number of apples = 3o; total fruits equation: o + 3o = 48.

A pet shop has dogs and cats. If the total number of pets is 40 and there are 4 more dogs than cats, how can you set up the equations to find the number of each type of pet?

• 18 cats and 22 dogs

• 20 cats and 20 dogs

• 15 cats and 25 dogs

• 10 cats and 30 dogs

A class has students who play soccer and basketball. If there are 12 more soccer players than basketball players and the total number of players is 36, how would you write the equations to find the number of players in each sport?

• x + (x + 12) = 24; 2x + 12 = 24.

• x + (x + 6) = 36; 2x + 6 = 36.

• x + (x - 12) = 36; 2x - 12 = 36.

• x + (x + 12) = 36; 2x + 12 = 36.

A bakery sells cupcakes and cookies. If the total number of baked goods is 80 and there are 20 more cupcakes than cookies, how can you express this situation with equations?

• x + x = 80, where x is the total number of baked goods.

• x + (x + 20) = 80, where x is the number of cookies.

• 2x + 20 = 80, where x is the number of cupcakes.

• x + (x - 20) = 80, where x is the number of cookies.

In a garden, there are roses and tulips. If there are twice as many tulips as roses and the total number of flowers is 90, how would you identify the variables and write the equations to find the number of each type of flower?

• Roses: 45, Tulips: 45

• Roses: 30, Tulips: 60

• Roses: 50, Tulips: 40

• Roses: 20, Tulips: 70