Word Problems in Algebra.

WORD PROBLEMS fall into distinct types. Below are examples. The only difficulty will be translating verbal language into algebraic language.


Example 1. ax ± b = c. All problems like the following, lead eventually to an equation in that simple form.


Jane spent $42 for shoes. This was $14 less than twice what she spent for a blouse. How much was the blouse?


Solution. Every word problem has an unknown number. In this problem, it is the price of the blouse. Always let x represent the unknown number. That is, let x answer the question.

Let x, then, be how much she spent for the blouse. The problem states that "This" -- that is, $42 -- was $14 less than two times x. Here is the equation:


2x − 14 = 42.
2x = 42 + 14
2x = 56.
x = 56/2
x = 28

The blouse cost $28.

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