Unlocking Variables: Word Problems & Equations for 6th Graders

A store sells pencils for $x each. If you buy 5 pencils and spend $15, what is the value of x?

• 3

• 5

• 4

• 2

Maria has y apples. She gives 3 apples to her friend. If she now has 12 apples left, what equation can you write to find y?

• y - 3 = 12

• y = 15

• y + 3 = 12

• y - 12 = 3

A car travels at a speed of z miles per hour. If it takes 3 hours to reach a destination, how far did the car travel? Write an equation to represent this.

• 2z miles

• 4z miles

• 3z miles

• z miles

Tom has twice as many marbles as his sister. If his sister has m marbles, how can you express the number of marbles Tom has?

• 3 * m

• m - 1

• 2 * m

• m + 1

A recipe requires 2x cups of flour. If you want to make 3 batches of the recipe, how many cups of flour do you need in total?

• 6x

• 4x

• 8x

• 5x

The total cost of 4 notebooks and 2 pens is $20. If each notebook costs n dollars, write an equation to find n.

• 4n + 2p = 20

• 5n + 2p = 20

• 4n + 3p = 20

• 3n + 2p = 20

A gardener plants x flowers in each row. If there are 5 rows and a total of 30 flowers, what equation can you write to find x?

• 5 * x = 30

• 5 + x = 30

• x + 5 = 30

• 30 - x = 5

Lily has $50. She spends p dollars on a book. Write an equation to find out how much money she has left after her purchase.

• p - 50

• 50 + p

• 50 - p

• 50 * p

A box can hold 10y toys. If you have 50 toys, how many boxes do you need? Write an equation to represent this situation.

• 50 + (10y)

• 50 * (10y)

• 10y - 50

• 50 / (10y)

A school has x students. If 15 more students enroll, the total becomes 200. Write an equation to find x.

• 200

• 175

• 185

• 190