Common Core: 7th Grade Math : Solve Word Problems Leading to Equations: CCSS.Math.Content.7.EE.B.4a

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 7th Grade Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Equations

Let \(\displaystyle C\) be the temperature expressed in degrees Celsius. Then the equivalent temperature \(\displaystyle F\) in degrees Fahrenheit can be calculated using the formula:

\(\displaystyle F = \frac{9}{5} C + 32\)

What is \(\displaystyle 65^{\circ } C\) expressed in degrees Fahrenheit?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 174.6^{\circ } F\)

\(\displaystyle 149 ^{\circ } F\)

\(\displaystyle 85 ^{\circ } F\)

\(\displaystyle 59.4^{\circ } F\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 149 ^{\circ } F\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle F = \frac{9}{5} C + 32\)

\(\displaystyle F = \frac{9}{5} \cdot 65 + 32 = 117+32 = 149 ^{\circ } F\)

Example Question #102 : Equations

Let \(\displaystyle F\)be the temperature expressed in degrees Fahrenheit. Then the equivalent temperature \(\displaystyle C\) in degrees Celsius can be calculated using the formula:

\(\displaystyle C = \frac{5}{9} (F-32)\)

What is \(\displaystyle 80^{\circ } F\) expressed in degrees Celsius (to the nearest degree)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12^{\circ } C\)

\(\displaystyle 112^{\circ } C\)

\(\displaystyle 27^{\circ } C\)

\(\displaystyle 87^{\circ } C\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 27^{\circ } C\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle C = \frac{5}{9} (F-32)\)

\(\displaystyle C = \frac{5}{9} (80-32)\)

\(\displaystyle C = \frac{5}{9} \cdot 48 \approx 26.7\), which rounds to \(\displaystyle 27^{\circ } C\)

Example Question #13 : Algebra

On average, 1 in 50 apples that grow in an orchard will not be harvested. Of those, half will rot on the ground. If 500 apples are growing in an orchard, how many will rot on the ground?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 50\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 15\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 5\)

Explanation:

If there are 500 apples and 1 in 50 will remain unharvested, then we can find the number of unharvested apples by multiplying. 

\(\displaystyle 500\times \frac{1}{50}=10\)

10 apples will remain unharvested. Of those, half will rot on the ground. Multiply to find how many apples rot on the ground.

\(\displaystyle 10\times\frac{1}{2}=5\)

5 apples will rot on the ground.

Example Question #3 : Word Problems

Erin is making thirty shirts for her upcoming family reunion. At the reunion she is selling each shirt for $18 apiece. If each shirt cost her $10 apiece to make, how much profit does she make if she only sells 25 shirts at the reunion?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \$300\)

\(\displaystyle \$640\)

\(\displaystyle \$340\)

\(\displaystyle \$150\)

\(\displaystyle \$450\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \$150\)

Explanation:

This problem involves two seperate multiplication problems. Erin will make $450 at the reunion but supplies cost her $300 to make the shirts. So her profit is $150.

Example Question #2 : Word Problems

Write as an equation: 

"Ten added to the product of a number and three is equal to twice the number."

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10x+ 3= 2x\)

\(\displaystyle 10(x+ 3)= 2x\)

\(\displaystyle 3(x+ 10 )= 2x\)

\(\displaystyle 3x+ 10 = 2x\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3x+ 10 = 2x\)

Explanation:

Let \(\displaystyle x\) represent the unknown quantity.

The first expression:

"The product of a number and three" is three times this number, or 

\(\displaystyle 3x\)

"Ten added to the product" is

\(\displaystyle 3x+10\)

The second expression:

"Twice the number" is two times the number, or

\(\displaystyle 2x\).

The desired equation is therefore

\(\displaystyle 3x+ 10 = 2x\).

Example Question #4 : Word Problems

Write as an equation: 

Five-sevenths of the difference of a number and nine is equal to forty.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9 - \frac{5}{7} y = 40\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7} (y- 9) = 40\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7} y- 9 = 40\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7} (9 - y) = 40\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7} (y- 9) = 40\)

Explanation:

"The difference of a number and nine" is the result of a subtraction of the two, so we write this as

\(\displaystyle y- 9\)

"Five-sevenths of" this difference is the product of \(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7}\) and this, or

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7} (y- 9)\)

This is equal to forty, so write the equation as

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{7} (y- 9) = 40\)

Example Question #1 : Solve Word Problems Leading To Equations: Ccss.Math.Content.7.Ee.B.4a

Write as an equation:

Twice the sum of a number and ten is equal to the difference of the number and one half.

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2 x+10 = x - \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2 (x+10) =\frac{1}{2} - x\)

\(\displaystyle 2 (x+10) = x - \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2 x+10 = \frac{1}{2} - x\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2 (x+10) = x - \frac{1}{2}\)

Explanation:

Let \(\displaystyle x\) represent the unknown number.

"The sum of a number and ten" is the expression \(\displaystyle x+ 10\). "Twice" this sum is two times this expression, or

\(\displaystyle 2 (x+10)\).

"The difference of the number and one half" is a subtraction of the two, or

\(\displaystyle x - \frac{1}{2}\)

Set these equal, and the desired equation is

\(\displaystyle 2 (x+10) = x - \frac{1}{2}\)

Example Question #1 : Word Problems

Mark is three times as old as his son Brian. In ten years, Mark will be \(\displaystyle 43\) years old. In how many years will Mark be twice as old as Brian? 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 22\)

\(\displaystyle 13\)

\(\displaystyle 11\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 11\)

Explanation:

In ten years, Mark will be \(\displaystyle 43\) years old, so Mark is \(\displaystyle 43-10 = 33\) years old now, and Brian is one-third of this, or \(\displaystyle 33 \div 3 = 11\) years old. 

Let \(\displaystyle N\) be the number of years in which Mark will be twice Brian's age. Then Brian will be \(\displaystyle N + 11\), and Mark will be \(\displaystyle N + 33\). Since Mark will be twice Brian's age, we can set up and solve the equation:

\(\displaystyle 2 (N + 11) = N + 33\)

\(\displaystyle 2N + 22 = N + 33\)

\(\displaystyle 2N + 22-N - 22 = N + 33 -N - 22\)

\(\displaystyle N = 11\)

Mark will be twice Brian's age in \(\displaystyle 11\) years.

Example Question #1 : Word Problems

Gary is twice as old as his niece Candy. How old will Candy will be in five years when Gary is \(\displaystyle 37\) years old?

Possible Answers:

Not enough information is given to determine the answer.

\(\displaystyle 21\)

\(\displaystyle 24\)

\(\displaystyle 14\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 21\)

Explanation:

Since Gary will be 37 in five years, he is \(\displaystyle 37 - 5 = 32\) years old now. He is twice as old as Cathy, so she is \(\displaystyle 32 \div 2 =16\) years old, and in five years, she will be \(\displaystyle 16 + 5 = 21\) years old.

Example Question #6 : Word Problems

If a rectangle possesses a width of \(\displaystyle 2\textup{ inches}\) and has a perimeter of \(\displaystyle 18\textup{ inches}\), then what is the length? 

 

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 8\textup{ inches}\)

\(\displaystyle 10\textup{ inches}\)

\(\displaystyle 11\textup{ inches}\)

\(\displaystyle 7\textup{ inches}\)

\(\displaystyle 9\textup{ inches}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7\textup{ inches}\)

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem, we need to recall the formula for perimeter of a rectangle:

\(\displaystyle P=2l+2w\)

We can substitute in our known values and solve for our unknown variable (i.e. length):

\(\displaystyle 18=2l+2(2)\)

\(\displaystyle 18=2l+4\)

We want to isolate the \(\displaystyle l\) to one side of the equation. In order to do this, we will first subtract \(\displaystyle 4\) from both sides of the equation. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}18=2l+4\\ -4\ \ \ \ \ \ -4\end{array}}{\\\\14=2l}\)

Next, we can divide each side by \(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{\begin{array}[b]{r}\frac{14}{2}=\frac{2l}{2}\\\end{array}}{7=l}\)

The length of the rectangle is \(\displaystyle 7\textup{ inches}\)

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