Solving Practical

Problems
Lesson 6
What are Practical Problems?
 Practical
Problems are commonly known as
word problems.

 These are problems that are written in

common English. You have to read the
question and try to figure out what it is you
are supposed to find and how to solve it.
Where to start?
 First you need to identify what it is you are trying to
find.

 Key words that you want to look for are:

 What
 How long
 How many
 A number
 A product
 How much
Defining a variable
 After you have found what it is you are trying
to find you need to label that thing.

 You will call this your unknown variable, x.

(you can call the variable whatever letter you
choose)

 Then you will need to change the English into

math language.
Example 1
 Wild toads grow about 6 inches each year. If
a toad is now 11 inches long, about how long
will it take for the frog to become 59 inches
long?

 First we need to identify what it is we are

trying to find.
Example 1
 Thekeyword in that passage was “about how
long.”

 We will make that our variable, x.

 “about how long” = x (in years)

 Our
variable x stands for how long, how
many years.
Example 1
 Now we need to write an equation so we can
solve for x.
 (wild toads grow 6 inches a year and they are
now 11 inches tall) = 6x + 11.
 How long will it take them to become 59
inches?
 6x + 11 = 59 , now solve for x.
Example 1
 6x+ 11 = 59 - we need to get x alone,
what do we need to move first?

 The ( + 11 ). So we need to do the opposite

of ( + 11 ) which is ( - 11, subtract 11) from
both sides.
 6x + 11 – 11 = 59 – 11 which produces

 6x = 48 now we must get rid of that 6

Example 1
 6x = 48 what is keeping x from being alone?
 The 6 being multiplied to it. How do we get rid of
that 6? Do the opposite of what it is doing. Divide
by 6.

6 x 48
= Which produces x = 8
6 6
Example 1
 We found that x = 8. So replace x with “about
how long.” About how long = 8 years. We
need to check that solution.
 6x + 11 = 59
 6(8) + 11 = 59
 48 + 11 = 59
 59 = 59
 8 years is the correct solution. The frog will
be 59 inches long in 8 years.
Example 2
 Let us try another example.
 Thirteen more than four times a number is
twenty nine. Find that number.

 What are we trying to find?

 A number.

 So x = a number.
Example 2
 Write the passage from English to math
language.

 (13 more) than (4 times a number) is (29).

 13 + 4x = 29

 13 + 4x = 39 (remember: a number = x)
Example 2
 Now we have to solve for x.
 13 + 4x = 29

 First subtract 13 from both sides.

 13 -13 + 4x = 29 – 13

 Which produces 4x = 16

 Now divide both sides by 4.

4 x 16
=
4 4
 Which produces x = 4.

 Check your solution

Example 2
 13 + 4x = 29 Substitute x = 4
 13 + 4(4) = 29

 13 + 16 = 29

 29 = 29

 So x = 4 is a correct solution.
 The number is 4. (Answer the question in
English)
Example 3
 Try this one.

A mechanic charges a flat fee of 50 dollars to

look at your car. He also charges 25 dollars
an hour to service your car. How many hours
did the mechanic service your car if your bill
was 225 dollars.
Example 3
 What did you pick for your variable?
 “How many hours” = h

 Now write your equation.

 (Flat fee) + ( 25 dollars per hour) = (200 dollars)

 50 + 25h = 200 (now solve for h)

Example 3
 50 + 25h = 225 (first subtract 50 from both sides)
 50 – 50 + 25h = 225 – 50

 25h = 175 ( divide both sides by 25)

25h 175
=
25 25
 h=7

 Check your answer.

Example 3
 50 + 25h = 225 ,h=7

 50 + 25(7) = 225
 50 + 175 = 225

 225 = 225 h = 7 is a correct solution.

 The mechanic worked on the car for 7 hours.

Example 4
 Try this one

A boat sold for 500 dollars. The selling price

of 500 dollars is 100 dollars less than twice
the cost of the boat. Find the cost of the
boat.
Example 4
 Cost of the boat = c

 (500 dollar selling price) = (100 dollars less than 2 times the cost)

 500 = 2c – 100 Solve for c

 500 + 100 = 2c – 100 + 100 (add 100 to both sides)

 600 = 2c Divide both sides by 2

 300 = c

 The cost of the boat was 300 dollars

Remember
 Firstread the whole passage and try to figure
out what is it your are supposed to find.
 Make that thing your variable.

 Write the English into math language.

 Solve for your variable.

 Check your solution.