Name: __________________

Algebra One Student Notes

2.5 Literal Equations and Formulas
What will you learn in this lesson?
Algebra Benchmarks and Indicators
1) You will rewrite literal equations and formulas
2) You will use literal equations and formulas

CCSM Standard:A.CED.4
Rearrange formulas to
highlight a quantity of
interest, using the same
reasoning as in solving
equations.
ALSO: N.Q.1, A.CED.1,
A.REI.1 and A.REI.3

Lesson
Part 1: Getting Ready!
1) Define literal equation

An equation that involves two or more variables

2) You are ordering pizzas and sandwiches. You have a budget of $80. How many sandwiches can you buy
if you buy 4 pizzas? 5 pizzas? Explain your answer.
a) What is the relationship between the number of pizzas and the number of sandwiches yo ucan buy?
Answer:
b) What are your variable quantities?

c) What equation can you write to model the situation?

Answer:
d) Solve your equation for 4 pizzas

e) Solve your equation for 5 pizzas.

f) In words what does each of your solutions represent?

Created by Megan Lantz

Algebra One Student Notes

2.5 Literal Equations and Formulas
Part 2: Rewriting a Literal Equation With Only Variables
3) What equation do you get when you solve ax + b = c for x?
a) Circle the variable you are solving for:
b) Use the Order of Operations in reverse to isolate your variable and simplify.

4) What equation do you get when you solve

t = r + px for x?

6) What equation do you get when you solve

3m 9n = 24 for m?

5) What equation do you get when you solve

Created by Megan Lantz

for d?

7) What equation do you get when you solve

4n 6m = -2 for n?

Algebra One Student Notes

2.5 Literal Equations and Formulas
Part 3: Rewriting a Geometric Formula
8) Define formula.

An equation that states a relationship among quantities.

9) Common Geometric Formulas

10) Solve each problem. Round to the nearest tenth, if necessary. Use 3.14 for .
a) What is the width of a rectangle
with length 25 in. and area 375 in.2?
a)

b) What is the radius of a circle with circumference

of 5 cm?

What formula do we need to use?

a)

____________________________

____________________________

b) What variable to we need to solve for?

b) What variable to we need to solve for?

________________________

________________________

c)

New equation:

c)

________________________________
d) Plug-in known values and solve.

What formula do we need to use?

New equation:
________________________________

d) Plug-in known values and solve.

Created by Megan Lantz

Algebra One Student Notes

2.5 Literal Equations and Formulas

c) A triangle has base 15 ft and area 60 ft2. What is the height?

a)

What formula do we need to use? ____________________________

b) What variable to we need to solve for? ________________________

c)

New equation: ________________________________

d) Plug-in known values and solve.

Part 4: Rewriting a Formula

11) The monarch butterfly is the only butterfly that migrates annually north and south. The distance that a
particular group of monarch butterflies travel is shown. It takes a typical butterfly about 120 days to
travel one way. What is the average rate at which a butterfly travels in miles per day? Round to the
nearest mile per day.
a) What formula is needed to solve this problem?

b) What variable do you need to solve for?

c) Solve for your variable.

d) Plug in your known information and solve.

Created by Megan Lantz