Writing equations in context MCC9-12.A.CED.1 Create equations and inequalities in one variable and use them to solve problems.
Word Problems scare me!
Word problems make me nervous
Word Problems? I just skip them!
Never fear! Learn how to be a word problem whiz!
We will “translate” a word problem into an equation that represents it. Solving problems in algebra depends on your ability to represent missing or unknown quantities.
But first, we need to understand some clues to help us translate the word problems into algebraic equations.
Words to watch for: Addition ADDED TO ADDITIONAL ALL ALTOGETHER BOTH COMBINED IN ALL INCREASED BY MORE THAN SUM PLUS RAISE TOGETHER TOTAL
Words to look for: subtraction CHANGED DECREASED BY DIFFERENCE DROPPED EXCEEDED FEWER HAVE LEFT LESS LOST MORE REDUCED REMAIN SUBTRACT TAKE AWAY MINUS
Words to look for: multiplication MULTIPLIED BY **OF** PRODUCT OF TIMES TWICE
Words to look for: division CUT DIVIDED DIVISOR EACH EQUAL PARTS EVERY RATIO OF AVERAGE OUT OF QUOTIENT SEPARATE SHARED SPLIT PER
Words to look for: eQUALS ARE EQUALS GIVES IS IS THE SAME AS LEAVES MAKES RESULTS WAS WILL BE WERE YIELDS
Word problem solving strategies Read through the entire problem. Highlight the important information and key words that you need to solve the problem. Solve. Write your answer in a complete sentence. Check or justify your answer (optional).