Pre-Algebra : Word Problems with One Unknown
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Pre-Algebra
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Word Problems With One Unknown
Mike and his 2 brothers decided to buy a new video game console. If Mike and his brothers each paid $49, how much did the video game console cost?
$145
$147
$137
$98
$155
$147
To solve this simple word problem, we need to understand what it is saying. The problem tells us that Mike and his brothers (three people in all) paid $49 apiece for a video game console. This means we need to multiply what each person paid by the number of people:
The total cost of the video game console was $147.
Example Question #22 : Word Problems
Choose the equation that will solve Amanda's scenario.
Amanda has 
Amanda originally has 
Amanda is losing bracelets, so it is a subtraction problem.
Since the number we are solving for is the number of bracelets Amanda can give away, 
The number of bracelets that Amanda needs to finish with is 
Example Question #23 : Word Problems
Create an equation to solve the scenario.
Alex is the star player on his basketball team. For every basket he makes, his team receives 
The correct answer to the question is
The number of points that Alex scored is 
The unknown number that we are looking for is the number of baskets, so set 
Since each basket is worth 
The final equation comes out to be
Example Question #21 : Word Problems With One Unknown
Create an equation to solve the scenario.
Megan needs 
Megan originally has 
Megan needs to gain money, so this is an addition problem.
Since the number we are solving for is the amount of money that Megan needs to save, 
The amount of money that Megan needs to save is 
Example Question #25 : Word Problems
Create an equation for the scenario.
Lauren has 
The amount of money that Lauren has is 
On the opposite side of the equation, we solve for the unknown.
The unknown number that we are looking for is the number of necklaces she can buy, so set 
dollars, multiply 
by 
. Example Question #22 : Word Problems With One Unknown
Ian and his two friends bought a pizza. They divided the pizza into twelve slices. If divided evenly, how many slices can Ian eat?
The problem is asking you to divide 12 into three parts.
We divide 12 by 3. By factoring 12 we see that the 3's cancel and we are left with 4.
Example Question #23 : Word Problems With One Unknown
Sally's Mom gave Sally 
The question is asking you to divide the $20 by the cost of one cookie.
In this problem each cookie costs $2.
Therefore, with $20 Sally can buy 10 cookies.
Example Question #27 : Word Problems
Matt was 
The question is asking you to add 7 years to Matt's age because 
Adding his age from 2000 to the number of years that have past from 2000 to 2007 we get his new age.
Example Question #24 : Word Problems With One Unknown
Adam bought 
The question is asking you to subtract the 5 pieces leftover from the original amount of 20.
Example Question #25 : Word Problems
Joe is traveling by car and his average speed is 
You are given two knowns; the rate of travel is 
To solve for 
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