WRITING EQUATIONS 4.1.
In this lesson, students translate written information, often modeling everyday situations,
into algebraic symbols and linear equations. Students use “let” statements to specifically
define the meaning of each of the variables they use in their equations.
For additional examples and more problems, see the Checkpoint 7A problems at the back
of the textbook.
Example 1
The perimeter of a rectangle is 60 cm. The length is 4 times the width. Write one or more
equations that model the relationships between the length and width.
Start by identifying what is unknown in the situation. Then define variables, using “let”
statements, to represent the unknowns. When writing “let” statements, the units of measurement
must also be identified. This is often done using parentheses, as shown in the “let” statements
below. In this problem, length and width are unknown.
Let w represent the width (cm) of the rectangle, and let l represent the length (cm).
In this problem there are two variables. To be able to find unique solutions for these two
variables, two unique equations need to be written.
From the first sentence and our knowledge about rectangles, the equation P = 2l + 2w can be
used to write the equation 60 = 2l + 2w. From the sentence “the length is 4 times the width” we
can write l = 4w.
A system of equations is two or more Let w represent the width (cm) of the rectangle,
equations that use the same set of variables and let l represent the length (cm).
to represent a situation. The system of
equations that represent the situation is:
Note that students who took a CPM middle school course may recall a method called the 5-D
Process. This 5-D Process is not reviewed in this course, but it is perfectly acceptable for
students to use it to help write and solve equations for word problems.
Using a 5-D table:
Define Do Decide
Width Length Perimeter P = 60?
Trial 1: 10 4(10) 2(40) + 2(10) = 100 too big
Trial 2: 5 4(5) 2(20) + 2(5) = 50 too small
l 4(l) 2(4w) + 2w = 60
24 Core Connections Algebra
Chapter 4
Example 2
Mike spent $11.19 on a bag containing red and blue candies. The bag weighed 11 pounds. The
red candy costs $1.29 a pound and the blue candy costs $0.79 a pound. How much red candy did
Mike have?
Start by identifying the unknowns. The question in the problem is a good place to look because
it often asks for something that is unknown. In this problem, the amount of red candy and the
amount of blue candy are unknown.
Let r represent the amount of red candy (lb), and b represent the amount of blue candy (lb).
Note how the units of measurement were defined. If we stated “r = red candy” it would be very
easy to get confused as to whether r represented the weight of the candy or the cost of the candy.
From the statement “the bag weighed 11 pounds” we can write r + b = 11. Note that in this
equation the units are lb + lb = lb, which makes sense.
The cost of the red candy will be Let r represent the weight of the red candy (lb), and
$1.29/pound multiplied by its weight, let b represent the weight of the blue candy (lb).
or 1.29r. Similarly, the cost of the
blue candy will be 0.79b. Thus
1.29r + 0.79b = 11.19.
Parent Guide with Extra Practice 25
Problems
Write an equation or a system of equations that models each situation. Do not solve your
equations.
1. A rectangle is three times as long as it is wide. Its perimeter is 36 units. Find the length of
each side.
2. A rectangle is twice as long as it is wide. Its area is 72 square units. Find the length of
each side.
3. The sum of two consecutive odd integers is 76. What are the numbers?
4. Nancy started the year with $425 in the bank and is saving $25 a week. Seamus started the
year with $875 and is spending $15 a week. When will they have the same amount of
money in the bank?
5. Oliver earns $50 a day and $7.50 for each package he processes at Company A.
His paycheck on his first day was $140. How many packages did he process?
6. Dustin has a collection of quarters and pennies. The total value is $4.65. There are
33 coins. How many quarters and pennies does he have?
7. A one-pound mixture of raisins and peanuts costs $7.50. The raisins cost $3.25 a pound
and the peanuts cost $5.75 a pound. How much of each ingredient is in the mixture?
8. An adult ticket at an amusement park costs $24.95 and a child’s ticket costs $15.95.
A group of 10 people paid $186.50 to enter the park. How many were adults?
9. Katy weighs 105 pounds and is gaining 2 pounds a month. James weighs 175 pounds and
is losing 3 pounds a month. When will they weigh the same amount?
10. Harper Middle School has 125 fewer students than Holmes Junior High. When the two
schools are merged there are 809 students. How many students attend each school?
26 Core Connections Algebra
Chapter 4
Answers (Other equivalent forms are possible.)
One Variable Equation System of Equations Let Statement
1. 2w + 2(3w) = 36 l = 3w Let l = length, w = width
2w + 2l = 36
2. w(2w) = 72 l = 2w Let l = length, w = width
lw = 72
3. m + (m + 2) = 76 m + n = 76 Let m = the first odd integer
n= m+2 and n = the next consecutive
odd integer
4. 425 + 25x = 875 ! 15x y = 425 + 25x Let x = the number of weeks
y = 875 ! 15x and y = the total money in
the bank
5. 50 + 7.5 p = 140 Let p = the number of
packages Oliver processed
6. 0.25q + 0.01(33 ! q) = 4.65 q + p = 33 Let q = number of quarters,
0.25q + 0.01p = 4.65 p = number of pennies
7. 3.25r + 5.75(1 ! r) = 7.5 r + p =1 Let r = weight of raisins and
3.25r + 5.75 p = 7.5(1) p = weight of peanuts
8. 24.95a + 15.95(10 ! a) = 186.5 a + c = 10 Let a = number of adult
24.95a + 15.95c = 186.5 tickets and c = number of
child’s tickets
9. 105 + 2m = 175 ! 3m w = 105 + 2m Let m = the number of
w = 175 ! 3m months and w = the weight
of each person
10. x + (x ! 125) = 809 x + y = 809 Let x = number of Holmes
y = x ! 125 students and y = number of
Harper students
Parent Guide with Extra Practice 27
