BULACAN STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

MMW 101
MATHEMATICS IN THE MODERN WORLD

Module 10
Solving Worded Problems
(Use a Variable Strategy)
“Problems, problems go away
Mathematics is on the way”
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Solving Worded Problems

(Use a Variable Strategy)

Objective of the Module

At the end of the module, you should be able to solve worded problems using
the strategy “use a variable”.
The strategy use a variable is often used when solving algebraic problems.
We can use this when we solve number problems, consecutive integer problems, age
problems, digit problems, and many other problems that involve known and unknown
quantities to form workable equations.
Here are some examples.
Example 1. Three times the difference of a number and two is the same as the number
increased by 8. Find the number.
Solution:
Step 1. Understand the problem.
Read the problem carefully and analyze what is given and what is being asked
in the problem. Since we are looking for a number, we can represent that number by
𝑥.

Step 2. Devise a plan. (Translate.)

Three times the difference of a number and two is the same as the number increased by 8.

3(𝑥 − 2) = 𝑥+8
Step 3. Carry out the plan. (Solve.)

3(𝑥 − 2) = 𝑥 + 8
3𝑥 − 6 = 𝑥 + 8
3𝑥 − 𝑥 = 8 + 6
2𝑥 = 14
2𝑥 14
=
2 2

𝒙 = 𝟕 (the number)
Step 4. Look back. (Check.)
3(𝑥 − 2) = 𝑥 + 8
3(7 − 2) = 7 + 8
3(5) = 15
15 = 15
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Example 2. Find three consecutive integers if five times the third is equal to eighteen
more than the sum of the first and the second.
Step 1. Understand the problem.
There are three consecutive integers. We can represent them by 𝑥, 𝑥 +
1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 + 2. Understand the relationship given among the three integers to formulate
the equation.

𝑥 – first integer
𝑥 + 1 – second integer
𝑥 + 2 – third integer
Step 2. Devise a plan. (Translate.)
five times the third is equal to eighteen more than the sum of the first and the second

5(𝑥 + 2) = 𝑥 + (𝑥 + 1) + 18
Step 3. Carry out the plan. (Solve.)
5(𝑥 + 2) = 𝑥 + (𝑥 + 1) + 18
5𝑥 + 10 = 2𝑥 + 19
5𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 19 − 10
3𝑥 = 9
3𝑥 9
=3
3

𝒙 = 𝟑 (the first integer)

𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟒 (the second integer)
𝒙 + 𝟐 = 𝟓 (the third integer)
Step 4. Look back. (Check.)

5(𝑥 + 2) = 𝑥 + (𝑥 + 1) + 18
5(5) = 3 + 4 + 18
5(5) = 25
25 = 25
Therefore, the three consecutive integers are 3, 4, and 5.

In the succeeding examples, Polya’s four steps are not presented one by one but are
still being applied.
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Example 3. The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 10. If the unit digit is divided
by the tens digit, the quotient is four. Find the number.

Solution: Let 𝒖 be the unit digit and 𝒕 be the tens digit.

The sum of the digits of a two-digit number is 10.

𝑡 + 𝑢 = 10 (Equation 1)

If the unit digit is divided by the tens digit, the quotient is four.
𝑢
= 4 (Equation 2)
𝑡

Solve the equation.

Solve for 𝑡 in equation 1.
𝑡 + 𝑢 = 10
𝑢 = 10 − 𝑡
Substitute the value of 𝑢 in equation 2.
10−𝑡
=4
𝑡

4𝑡 = 10 − 𝑡
4𝑡 + 𝑡 = 10
5𝑡 = 10
5𝑡 10
=
5 5

𝒕 = 𝟐 (tens digit)
Solve for 𝑢. 𝑢 = 10 − 𝑡
𝑢 = 10 − 2
𝒖 = 𝟖 (units digit)
Therefore, the number is 28.
Checking:
𝑡 + 𝑢 = 10
2 + 8 = 10
10 = 10 (the sum of the digits is 10)
8 ÷ 2 = 4 The unit digit divided by the tens digit is equal to 4.
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Note: The following are examples of age problems. Let us remember that a person
has three ages: the past age, the present age, and the future age. To get
the age of a person in the past, we subtract from his present age. To get his
age in the future, we add to his present age.

Example 4. One-fourth of Jubilant’s age twelve years ago is equal to one-sixth of her
age eight years hence. How old is she now?

Solution: Let us tabulate the given data in the problem.

Present Past age (12 years ago) Future age (8 years hence)
age
Jubilant 𝑥 𝑥 − 12 𝑥+8

One-fourth of Jubilant’s age twelve years ago is equal to one-sixth of her age eight years hence.
1 1
(𝑥 − 12) = (𝑥 + 8)
4 6

Solve the equation.

1 1
(𝑥 − 12) = (𝑥 + 8)
4 6

6(𝑥 − 12) = 4(𝑥 + 8)

6𝑥 − 72 = 4𝑥 + 32
6𝑥 − 4𝑥 = 32 + 72
2𝑥 = 104
2𝑥 104
=
2 2

𝒙 = 𝟓𝟐 (Jubilant’s age)
Checking:
1 1
(𝑥 − 12) = (𝑥 + 8)
4 6
1 1
(52 − 12) = (52 + 8)
4 6
1 1
(40) = (60)
4 6

10 = 10
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Example 5. Patrick is 28 years old, and his son is 2 years old. After how many years
will Patrick’s age be twice his son’s age?

Solution: Let us tabulate the given data in the problem.

Present age Future age (x years from now)
son 2 2+𝑥
Patrick 28 28 + 𝑥

Patrick’s age will be twice his son’s age.

28 + 𝑥 = 2(2 + 𝑥)
Solve the equation.
28 + 𝑥 = 2(2 + 𝑥)
28 + 𝑥 = 4 + 2𝑥
𝑥 − 2𝑥 = 4 − 28
−𝑥 = −24 (Multiply the equation by -1.)
𝒙 = 𝟐𝟒 years
Checking:
28 + 𝑥 = 2(2 + 𝑥)
28 + 24 = 2(2 + 24)
52 = 2(26)
52 = 52
In 24 years, Patrick will be 52 years old which is twice his son’s age.

Example 6. Emer John is five years less than twice Edward’s age. Three years ago,
Emer John’s age was 8 years more than Edward’s age. How old are they
now?

Solution: Let us tabulate the given data in the problem.

Present age Past age (3 years ago)

Edward 𝑥 𝑥−3
Emer John 2𝑥 − 5 (2𝑥 − 5) − 3 𝑜𝑟 2𝑥 − 8

Three years ago, Emer John’s age was 8 years more than Edward’s age.
2𝑥 − 8 = 𝑥−3+8
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Solve the equation.

2𝑥 − 8 = 𝑥 − 3 + 8
2𝑥 − 𝑥 = −3 + 8 + 8
𝒙 = 𝟏𝟑 (Edward’s age)
2𝑥 − 5 = 2(13) − 5 = 𝟐𝟏 (Emer John’s age)
Checking:
2𝑥 − 8 = 𝑥 − 3 + 8
2(13) − 8 = 13 − 3 + 8
26 − 8 = 13 − 3 + 8
18 = 18
Emer John’s age is 21 years which is five years less than twice Edward’s age
(13 years). Three years ago, Emer John was 18 years old which is eight years more
than Edward’s age (10 years).

Example 7. A shirt and a pair of pants together cost Php1,750.00. The pair of pants
costs Php650.00 more than the shirt. How much is the shirt?
Given:
Let: 𝑥 = cost of the shirt
𝑥 + 650 = cost of the pair of pants
1,750 = total cost of the shirt and pair of pants
Solution:
𝑥 + (𝑥 + 650) = 1,750
2𝑥 = 1,750 − 650
2𝑥 1,100
=
2 2

𝒙 = 𝑷𝒉𝒑𝟓𝟓𝟎. 𝟎𝟎 (cost of the shirt)

Checking:
550 + (550 + 650) = 1,750
550 + 1,200 = 1,750
1,750 = 1,750
The pair of pants costs 𝑃ℎ𝑝1,200.00 which is 𝑃ℎ𝑝650.00 more than the cost of
the shirt (𝑃ℎ𝑝550.00).
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Example 8. A fruit vendor sells grapes, apples and oranges. At the end of the day,
she was able to sell three more kilos of oranges than grapes and six more
kilos of apples than oranges. If 27 kilos of fruits were sold for that day,
how many kilos of each kind were sold?

Given:
Let: 𝑥 = the number of kilos of grapes sold
𝑥 + 3 = the number of kilos of oranges sold
𝑥 + 3 + 6 = the number of kilos of apples sold
Solution:
𝑥 + (𝑥 + 3) + (𝑥 + 3) + 6 = 27
3𝑥 + 12 = 27
3𝑥 = 27 − 12
3𝑥 = 15
3𝑥 15
=
3 3

𝒙 = 𝟓 (kilos of grapes sold)

𝑥 + 3 = 5 + 3 = 𝟖 (kilos of oranges sold)
𝑥 + 3 + 6 = 5 + 3 + 6 = 𝟏𝟒 (kilos of apples sold)
Checking:
𝑥 + (𝑥 + 3) + (𝑥 + 3) + 6 = 27
5 + 8 + 14 = 27
27 = 27

Example 9. A birthday celebration was held at a resort. The resort charges entrance
fees of Php350.00 for adults and Php200.00 for children. Senior citizens were given a
discount of 20%. The number of adults is four more than the number of children while
the number of seniors is four less than the number of children. If 30 persons attended
the celebration and the entrance fees paid amounted to Php8,580.00, how many
senior citizens received discounts?
Given:
Let: 𝑥 = the number of children
𝑥 + 4 = the number of adults
𝑥 − 4 = the number of senior citizens
𝑃ℎ𝑝350.00 − (𝑃ℎ𝑝350.00𝑥0.2) = 𝑃ℎ𝑝280.00 (Discounted entrance fee for seniors)
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Solution:
𝑥 (200) + (𝑥 + 4)(350) + (𝑥 − 4)(280) = 8,580
200𝑥 + 350𝑥 + 1,400 + 280𝑥 − 1,120 = 8,580
830𝑥 = 8,580 − 280
830𝑥 = 8,300
830𝑥 8,300
=
830 830

𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎 (children)
𝑥 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 𝟏𝟒 (adults)
𝑥 − 4 = 10 − 4 = 𝟔 (senior citizens)
Checking:
𝑥 (200) + (𝑥 + 4)(350) + (𝑥 − 4)(280) = 8,580
10(200) + (14)(350) + (6)(280) = 8,580
2,000 + 4,900 + 1,680 = 8,580
8,580 = 8,580
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References

Aufmann, R.N., et. Al. (2018). Mathematics in the Modern World (14th ed.). Sampaloc,
Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

Earnheart, R. and Adina, E. (2018). Math in the Modern World. Quezon City : C&E
Publishing, Inc.

Musser, G. L., Burger, W. F., & Peterson, B. E. (2003). Mathematics for Elementary
Teachers (6th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.