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Praxis Core Math
Course: Praxis Core Math > Unit 1
Lesson 4: Algebra- Algebraic properties | Lesson
- Algebraic properties | Worked example
- Solution procedures | Lesson
- Solution procedures | Worked example
- Equivalent expressions | Lesson
- Equivalent expressions | Worked example
- Creating expressions and equations | Lesson
- Creating expressions and equations | Worked example
- Algebraic word problems | Lesson
- Algebraic word problems | Worked example
- Linear equations | Lesson
- Linear equations | Worked example
- Quadratic equations | Lesson
- Quadratic equations | Worked example
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Algebraic word problems | Lesson
What are algebraic word problems?
Algebraic word problems are questions that require translating sentences to equations, then solving those equations.
The equations we need to write will only involve and a single variable. Usually, the variable represents an unknown quantity in a real-life scenario.
On the test, there are also word problems involving two overlapping groups that we can model and solve with .
What skills are needed?
- Translating sentences to equations
- Solving linear equations with one variable
- Evaluating algebraic expressions
- Solving problems using Venn diagrams
How do we solve algebraic word problems?
Solving algebraic word problems requires us to combine our ability to create equations and solve them.
To solve an algebraic word problem:
- Define a variable.
- Write an equation using the variable.
- Solve the equation.
- If the variable is not the answer to the word problem, use the variable to calculate the answer.
It's important for us to keep in mind how we define our variables. There is often a trade-off between the complexity of what a variable represents and the complexity of the equation.
What's a Venn diagram?
A Venn diagram is a visual representation of two or more groups and their overlap. In a Venn diagram, each circle represents a group with a . The overlap between the circles represent members of the groups that have . The non-overlapping part of each circle represents members of the group that have .
Each part of the Venn diagram is related by the following equations:
Your turn!
Things to remember
To solve an algebraic word problem:
- Define a variable.
- Write an equation using the variable.
- Solve the equation.
- If the variable is not the answer to the word problem, use the variable to calculate the answer.
For a Venn diagram:
Want to join the conversation?
- Class trip 314 students go to the museum some students pay regular price at $35 and some students get a discount and pay $21.50. The class trip cost a total of $10,072, how many students get the discounted price of $21.50(5 votes)
- r = students w/ regular price
d = students w/ discounted price
35r + 21.5d = 10,072
314 = r + d
314 - r = d
Therefore we can substitute d in the first equation:
35r + 21.5(314 - r) = 10,072
35r + 6751 - 21.5r = 10,072
35r - 21.5r + 6751 = 10,072
13.5r + 6751 = 10,072
13.5r = 10,072 - 6751
13.5r = 3321
r = 3321/13.5
r = 255
So now we know how many bought regular price tickets, let's use the second equation to find # of discount price students.
314 - r = d
314 - 255 = d
59 = d
There's your answer - 59 students bought discount tickets.
Welcome.(5 votes)
- if the world is spinning why is the sky so clear.(8 votes)
- and the clouds do not spin. Mother Earth is the only one that spins by herself.(0 votes)
- why is it called venn diagram?(4 votes)
- My daughter has asked for help with the following word problem.
Dan has $1.55. The sum of dimes and nickels he has to make up $1.55 is 23. How many dimes and how many nickels does he have?
Can you help me?(2 votes) - How do we know that the person who invented Mathematics was correct(2 votes)
- Oh this makes so much sense(1 vote)
- I learnt the venn diagram when I was in Year 2 but if you read this one it feels like you are reading a Year 10 solution of what a venn diagram is.(0 votes)
- i dont understand the "venn diagram"
is it for Grade 7's??(0 votes) - What if you don't know what both is(0 votes)