1.2: Applications and Modeling with Linear Equations M. R.

Abujiya

1.2: APPLICATIONS AND MODELING WITH LINEAR

EQUATIONS

I. Solving Applied Problems

Mathematics can be used to solve real life problems. Although, there is no one method that allows us to
solve all types of applied problems, the following steps may help.

Solving Applied Problems

o Step 1: Read the problem carefully until you understand what is given and what is to be found.
o Step 2: Assign a variable to represent the unknown value, using diagrams or table as needed.
o Step 3: Write an equation using the variable expression(s).
o Step 4: Solve the equation.
o Step 5: State the answer to the problem. Does it seem reasonable?
o Step 6: Check the answer in the words of the original problem.

II. Formulas from Geometry

Below is a list of formulas that may help us solve some practical problems in this section. The variable
A represents area, C represents circumference, and P represents perimeter.

** Students are to memorize these formulas.

Example 1: One-fifth of a number plus one-fourth of the number is 5 less than one-half the number.
What is the number?

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1.2: Applications and Modeling with Linear Equations M. R. Abujiya

Example 2: The difference between five times a number and 8 is equal to seven times the sum of the
number and 3. Find the number.

Example 3: The numerator of a fraction is 4 less than the denominator. If the numerator is increased
by 14 and the denominator is decreased by 10, the resulting number is 5. What is the
original fraction?

Example 4: A man wants to build a rectangular storage shed. He wants the length to be 3 feet less than
twice the width, and the perimeter to be 174 feet. Find the width and the length of the
shed.

Example 5: A triangle has a perimeter of 84 centimeters. Each of the two longer sides of the triangle is
three times as long as the shortest side. Find the length of each side of the triangle.

Example 6: If the length of each side of a square is increased by 3 cm, the perimeter of the new square
is 40 cm more than twice the length of each side of the original square. Find the
dimensions of the original square.

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