Green Solutions, Blue Solutions, Black Solutions

Solving Equations - Word Problems

Instructions
- Start with the basic level (ask for the worksheet from the teacher)
- Green Level (slightly harder)
- Blue Level (more challenging)
- Black Level (most challenging)

Solving 2 Step Linear Equations – Green Level Problems

Putting the skills to work

In all word problems – Define a variable, write an equations, solve (showing steps) and write a “therefore”
statement
1. Altitude An airplane was at a cruising altitude, then
descended 3800 feet. If the airplane is at 28,000 feet now,
what was the cruising altitude?

2. Mountains Mt. McKinley is the highest point in the

United States at 20,320 feet. This is 8708 feet less
than Mt. Everest. How high is Mt. Everest?

3. Temperature To convert a Celcius temperature, C, to a Kelvin temperature, K, add 273.15 to the Celcius
temperature. What is -16°C in degrees Kelvin?

4. Running Laps In gym class you run 1½ miles on the tract.

One lap is ¼ miles. How many laps do you run?

5.
Sports and Drama About of students participate in sports and drama. In what size school would you
expect to find 130 students in sports and drama?

An electrician charges $15 per service call plus $25 an hour plus the cost of the parts used. The total bill for a
6. recent job was $155. If the parts for this job cost $65 and x represents the number of hours worked, which
equation can be used to model this problem? Why?
A. 15 + 25 + x + 65 = 155 B. 15x + 25 + 65 = 155
C. 15 + 25x + 65 = 155 D. 15 + 25 + 65x = 155

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7. On a recent trip to a computer store, you purchased one software package for $24.99 and three printer
cartridges. The total bill with tax was $90.91. If the tax was $5.95 and x represents the cost of each printer
cartridge, which equation can be used to model this problem? Why?

A. 24.99 + 3x + 5.95 = 90.91 B. 24.99 + 3 + x + 5.95 = 90.91

C. 24.99 + 3x(5.95) = 90.91 D. 5.95(24.99 + 3x) = 90.91

8. You subscribe to a long-distance calling plan that costs $12.99 a month plus $0.09 per minute for all long-
distance calls. Your total long-distance bill last month was $21.54. If x represents the number of long-
distance minutes you used last month, which equation can be used to model this problem? Explain.

A. 12.99 + 0.09 + x = 21.54 B. 21.54 – 0.09 – x = 12.99

C. 12.99x + 0.09 = 21.54 D. 0.09x + 12.99 = 21.54

9. A parking garage charges $3 plus $1.50 per hour. You have $12 to spend for parking. Write and solve an
equation to find the number of hours that you can park.

10. As a lifeguard, you earn $6 per day plus $2.50 per hour. Write and solve an equation to find how many hours
you must work to earn $16 in one day.

Practice with Distance, Rate, and Time

Modeling a Real-Life Problem

Write and solve an equation to find your average speed s on a plane flight. You flew 525 miles in 1.75 hours.
SOLUTION Since RT = D
Verbal
Model

Labels Speed of jet = s (miles per hours)

Time = 1.75 (hours)
Distance = 525 (miles)

Algebraic s(1.75) = 525 Write algebraic model.

Model Divide each side by 1.75

s = 300 Simplify.

The speed s was 300 miles per hour. Check this in the statement of the problem.
1 Write and solve an equation to find your average speed in an airplane if you flew 800 miles in 2.5 hours.
2 Write and solve an equation to find your time in an airplane that you flew 1530 miles at a speed of 340 miles per
hour.

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Solving 2 Step Linear Equations – Blue Level Problems
Kicking up your skill level
Solve the equation.
1. -(2y + 1) = 8(y + 2) – 7

2. 7t + 6(t – 2) = 4t + 10(2t + 1) 3. (25x + 10) = 6x + 15

4. + =6 5. - = -5

Putting the skills to work

Tunnels
Tunnels have been used throughout history for various purposes, such as irrigation and transportation.
Boring Brothers, Inc. has a contract to dig a tunnel through a mountain to accommodate the construction of a major
highway. Crew A starts at the west end and digs a rate of 9 meters per day. Crew B starts at the east end two days
after Crew A and digs at a rate of 12 meters per day.

In Exercise 6 - 9, use the information above.

6. Let x be number of days Crew A has been digging. Write an expression for the number of meters Crew A
has dug after x days.

7. In terms of x, how many days has Crew B been digging? Write an expression for the number of meters Crew
B has dug in this number of days.

8. Write and solve an equation to find how many days it will take for both crews to dig the same number of
meters.

9. The total length of the tunnel is to be 2118 meters. Write and solve an equation to find how many days it
takes to dig the tunnel from the time Crew A stars.

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In exercises 10 - 12, use the following information.

Yearbook Layout A page of a school yearbook is 8½ inches by
11 inches. The left and right margins are 1 inch and 2½ inches,
respectively. The space between pictures is ¼ inches. How wide
can each picture be to fit 3 across the width of the page?

10. Write a verbal model for this problem.

11. Write an equation for the model.

12. Solve the equation and answer the question.

In exercises 13 - 16, use the following information.

Saving and Spending Currently, you have $60 and your sister has $135. You decide to save $5 of your
allowance each week, while your sister decides to spend her whole allowance plus $10 each week. How
long will it be before you have as much money as your sister?
13. Write a verbal model for this problem.

14. Write an equation for the model.

15. Solve the equation and answer the question.

16. Copy and complete the table below using the information from the original problem statement.

Examining an Equation
Given the following equation:
5(2a + 1) – 4(a – 2) = b(a + 4) + 16
17. Simplify the equation.

18. Find one pair of integer values for a and b that satisfies the equation.

19. Find another pair of integer values for a and b that satisfies the equation. Why do you think this
equation has more than one possible integer solution?

20.
Of three numbers, two are and . What should the third number be so that the average of all
three is 1?

21.
If , where A and B are different whole numbers, find the value of A and the value of B.
Hint: Could A be less than 3?

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22. When the same whole number is added to both the numerator and denominator of 2/5, the value of
the new fraction is 2/3. What number was added to both the numerator and denominator?

Solving 2 Step Linear Equations – Black Level Problems

Kicking it up a notch
Complete the following

1. 7t + 6(t – 2) = 4t + 10(2t + 1) 2. (25x + 10) = 6x + 15

3.
- = -5

Examining an Equation
Given the following equation:
5(2a + 1) – 4(a – 2) = b(a + 4) + 16
4. Simplify the equation.

5. Find one pair of integer values for a and b that satisfies the equation.

6. Find another pair of integer values for a and b that satisfies the equation. Why do you think this
equation has more than one possible integer solution?

Check and correct these sections before moving on….

Black Level Problems

1.
A and B are whole numbers, and Find the value of A and the value of B.

Hint: Change of and to an equivalent fraction with denominator 33.

2. A number N divides each of 17 and 30 with the same remainder in each case.
What is the largest value N can have?

3.
If a is divided by b, the result is If b is divided by c, the result id
What is the result when a is divided by c?

Hint: What does equal?

4. The three-digit number AB8 is 296 more than the two-digit number AB.
What is the value of the two-digit number AB?
Hint: Subtract AB from AB8. The result must be 296.

5. HA and AH represent two 2-digit numbers. If HA – AH = 18,

what is the value of the expression H – A?

6. The Earth with a Pipeline Around It.

Suppose that someone wants to lay a pipeline around the earth.
Also suppose that the circumference of the earth is exactly 25,000 miles (40,200 kilometers). The
manufacturer made the pipeline exactly 20 feet too long.
Still, it was proposed to put it in position,
supported above the surface of the earth by posts of equal length.
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How high above the surface of the earth would the pipeline be?

7.
Find the two numbers x and y such that xy, , and x – y are equal.

8. The number N2 is 25% more than the number N1,

the number N3 is 20% more than N2, and the number N4 is x% less than N3.
For what value of x is N4 = N1?

9.
Find the pairs of numbers x, y such that = x – 3.

10. In a certain examination it is noted that the average mark of those passing is 65,
while the average mark of those failing is 35.
If the average mark of all participants is 53, what percentage of the participants passed?

11. A man buys 3-cent stamps and 6-cent stamps, 120 in all.
He pays for them with a $5.00 bill and receives 75 cents in change.
Does he receive the correct change?

12.
Find the solution set of equation

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Solving 2 Step Linear Equations – Green Level Solutions

1. x – 3800 = 28,000; 31,800 feet

2. x – 8708 = 20,320; 29,028 feet

3. K = C + 273.15; 2571.15°K

4. ¼x = 1½; 6 laps

5.
x = 130; 325 students

6. C; The equation shows the charge per service call, 15, added to 25 times the number of hours worked, 25x,
added to the cost for the parts, 65, all set equal to the total bill of 155.

7. A; The equation shows the cost for the software package, 24.99, added to 3 times the cost of one printer
cartridge, 3x, added to the tax, 5.95, all set equal to the total bill of 90.91.

8. D; The equation shows the cost per minute times the number of minutes, 0.09x, added to the cost for the
.

plan, 12.99, all set equal to the total bill of 21.54.

9. 3 + 1.5n = 12; 6

10. 6 + 2.5h = 16; 4

Practice with Distance, Rate, and Time

11. s(2.5) = 800; 320 miles per hour

12. 340t = 1530; 4.5 hours

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Solving 2 Step Linear Equations – Blue Level Solutions
1. -1 2. -2 3. 1
4. f = 2 5.
t = -22
6. 9x
7. x – 2; 12(x – 2)
8. 9x = 12(x – 2); 8 days
9. 9x + 12(x – 2) = 2118; 102 days
10.

11. 3½ + 2 • ¼ + 3x = 8½

12. 1½; 1½in. per picture

13.

14. 60 + 5x = 135 – 10x

15. 5; 5 weeks

16.

17. Since 5(2a + 1) is the same as 5 • 2a + 5 • 1, I did that and got 10a + 5.
Same with the rest of the parts… -4(a – 2) => -4a + 8. b(a + 4) => ba + 4b. This all makes the
equation, 10a + 5 – 4a + 8 = ba + 4b + 16 => 6a + 13 = ba + 4b + 16. Then if we take everything
else from the right side of the equation and put it on the left side they all change symbols, which
makes 6a + 13 – ba – 4b – 16 = 0. If you take the +13 and do -16 that makes 6a – ba – 4b – 3 = 0.

18. I tried different integers for b to find out a. To make it easier, I changed the equation so that a
would stay by itself. So, 6a – ba – 4b – 3 = 0 => 6a – ba = 4b + 3 => a(6 – b) = 4b + 3. I divided
both sides by (6 – b) and came up with a = (4b + 3)/(6 – b). Then I tried out integer numbers for b,
looking for the ones that gave me a whole number for a. a = 5 and b = 3.
19.

20. Let N be the third number. For the average to be 1, the sum of the three numbers must be 3.

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Given: (1)

Simplify(1) (2)

Subtract 5/6 from sides of (2) (3)

21. A has to be larger than 3. Try A = 4; Therefore, A = 4 and B = 12.

or

The following rule applies to all unit fractions:

22. Algebra: Let N represent the number that is added to the numerator and to the denominator.
Given (1)

Multiply both sides of (1) by 3(5 + N) (2) 3(2 + N) = 2(5 + N)

Expand both sides of (2) (3) 6 + 3N = 10 + 2N
Subtract 2N from both sides of (3) (4) 6 + N = 10
Subtract 6 from both sides of (4) (5) N=4

Solving 2 Step Linear Equations – Black Level Solutions

Kicking it up a notch solutions:

1.
-2 2. 1 3. t = -22

4. Since 5(2a + 1) is the same as 5 • 2a + 5 • 1, I did that and got 10a + 5.

Same with the rest of the parts… -4(a – 2) => -4a + 8. b(a + 4) => ba + 4b. This all makes the
equation, 10a + 5 – 4a + 8 = ba + 4b + 16 => 6a + 13 = ba + 4b + 16. Then if we take everything
else from the right side of the equation and put it on the left side they all change symbols, which
makes 6a + 13 – ba – 4b – 16 = 0. If you take the +13 and do -16 that makes 6a – ba – 4b – 3 = 0.

5. I tried different integers for b to find out a. To make it easier, I changed the equation so that
would stay by itself. So, 6a – ba – 4b – 3 = 0 => 6a – ba = 4b + 3 => a(6 – b) = 4b + 3. I divided
both sides by (6 – b) and came up with a = (4b + 3)/(6 – b). Then I tried out integer numbers for b,
looking for the ones that gave me a whole number for a. a = 5 and b = 3.
6.

Black level solutions

1.
Method 1
Rewrite each fraction as an equivalent fraction with denominator 33. If
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B = 1, 3A = 20 and A is then 20/3. But A must be a whole number.
Therefore B ≠ 1. If B = 2, 3A = 9, and A = 3. Then A = 3 and B = 2.

Method 2

Rewrite the equation on Method 1 as .

Then 3A + 11B = 31. If B = 1, A will not be a whole number. If B = 2, 11B = 22 and 3A = 9. It
follows that A = 3 and B = 2.
Since 121 = 11 x 11, the club has 11 members and each contributed 11¢. Each 11¢ share was pain
in 3 coins which had to be 2 nickels and 1 penny. Then the 11 members contributed a total of 22
nickels.

2. Let R be the remainder when 17 and 30 are each divided by N. Then N divides each of 30 – R and
17 – R exactly. N also divides their difference (30 – R) – (17 – R) exactly. Since (30 – R) – (17 –
R) = 13, the largest value that N can have is 13.

3.
The given information can be represented by the following: and When the left

sides of both equations are multiplied, the result is When the right sides of both

equations are multiplied, the result is Thus So we can read this equation as: the

result of dividing a by c is equal to

4. Method 1
(1) A B 8 (2) A 2 8
- A B - A 2
2 9 6 2 9 6
Conclusion: in case (1), B must be 2; in case (2), A must be 3.

Method 2
(1) 2 9 6 (2) 2 9 6
+ A B + A 2
A B 8 A 2 8
Same conclusion as in Method 1.

Method 3
The three digit number can be represented as 100A + 10B + 8
The two digit number can be represented as 10A + B
The difference is 296.
The equation can be written as 100A + 10B + 8 – (10A + B) = 296
So 10A + B = 32 = AB

5. The two-digit number can be represented by the sum of the ones digit and 10 times the tens digit.
Therefore, the number HA and AH can be represented by 10H + A and 10A + H, respectively.
Their difference is (10H + A) – (10A + H). This simplifies to 9H – 9A or 9(H – A). Thus, the
difference between any two-digit number and its reversal is always a multiple of 9. In this case,
since 9(H – A) = 18, then H – A = 2.

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