Math 116- Principles and Strategies in Teaching Mathematics La Carlota City College

Heuristics (Problem Solving Strategy)

PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY: USE A VARIABLE
- It is a symbol used to represent either a quantity which is unknown or a quantity which may
change.

- It can be represented using letters, numbers and letters, and Greek letters.

Translation of English Phrase to Mathematical Phrase

And English Sentence to Mathematical Sentence

+ - x ÷ < > ≤ ≥ ≠

plus Subtracted times The is Is Is at is at is not equal to

from quotient l greater least most
of ess than than
Increased by The The divided is less
difference product of by than or
equal to
The sum of Decreased multiplied half of
by by
Added to minus twice ratio of
More than diminished of
by
combine less Four times

Translation of Verbal Phrase to Mathematical Phrase

Verbal Phrase Mathematical Phrase

The sum of a number and three x+3

Four times a certain number decreased by one 4x – 1
The sum of four times a number and three 4x+ 3 or 3+4x
three consecutive integers x + (x+1) + (x+2)
1 2 3
Three more than a number x+ 3 or 3+x
The sum of a number and its successor x + x+1
Twice a number a divided by 3 𝟐𝒂
𝟑
The product of x and the square of y xy2
10 added to twice a number x 10+2x or 2x+10
Math 116- Principles and Strategies in Teaching Mathematics La Carlota City College

1 subtracted from the square of a number x x2- 1 not 1-x2

The sum of 7 and the quotient when a number x is divided by 2 𝑥
7+
2
Twice the product of 3 and x 2 (3x)
Three consecutive even integers x + (x+2) + (x+4)
10 10+2 10+4
12 14
Three consecutive odd integers x + (x+2) + (x+4)
1 3 5

Translation of Verbal Sentence to Mathematical Sentence

Verbal Sentence Mathematical Sentence

The sum of a number and 5 is 4. x+5=4
Twice a number decreased by 1 is equal to 1. 2x - 1 = 1
A number x added to seven is equal to twice the same number x+ 7 = 2x + 3
increased by three.
Thrice a number x yields 15. 3x = 15
Two less than a number x results is 3. x - 2 =3 not 2-x = 3
Ten less than four times a certain number is 18 4x -10 =18 not 10-4x = 18
Twice the number w is greater than or equal to 6. 2w≥ 6
Three times 16 equals 48. 3(16)= 48 or 3•16 = 48
One third of a number n is greater than 5. 𝑛 1
> 5 or n > 5
3 3
A number m increased by 9 equals 23. m+9 = 23

How do you start to work a word problem?

1. Read the problem all the way through quickly, to see what kind of word problem it is
and what it is about.
2. Look for a question at the end of the problem. This is often a good way to find what you
are solving for. Sometimes two or three things need to be found.
3. Start every problem with “Let x= something”. (We generally use x for the unknown). You
let x equal what you are trying to find. What you are trying to find is usually stated in the
question at the end of the problem. This is called the unknown. You must show and label
what x stands for in your problem or your equation has no meaning. You’ll note in each
solved problem in this book that is always labeled with the unit of measure called for in
the problem (inches, mph, pounds, etc.). That’s why we don’t bother repeating the units
label for the answer line.
Math 116- Principles and Strategies in Teaching Mathematics La Carlota City College

4. If you have to find more than one quantity or unknown, try to determine the smallest
unknown. This unknown is often the one to let the x equal.
5. Go back and read the problem over again. This time read it a piece at a time. Simple
problem generally have two statements. One statement helps you set up the unknowns,
and the other gives you equation information. Translate the problem from words to
symbols a piece at a time.

Here are some examples of statements translated into algebraic language, using x as the
unknown. From time to time refer to these examples to refresh your memory as you
work the problems.
Statement: Algebra
1. Twice as much as the unknown 2x
2. Two less than the unknown x-2
3. Five more than the unknown x+5
4. Three more than twice the unknown 2x+3
5. A number decreased by 7 x-7
6. Ten decreased by the unknown 10-x
7. Sheri’s age (x) 4 years from now x+4
8. Dan’s age (x) 10 years ago x-10
9. Number of cents in x quarters 25x

10. Number of cents in 2x dimes 10(2x)

11. Number of cents in x+5 nickels 5(x+5)
12. Separate 17 into two parts x and 7-x
13. Distance traveled in x hours 50x
at 50 mph
14. Two consecutive integers x and x+1
15. Two consecutive even integers x and x+2
16. Two consecutive odd integers x and x+2
17. Interest in x dollars for 1 year 0.05x
at 5%
18. $20,000 separated into two x and $20,000-x
Math 116- Principles and Strategies in Teaching Mathematics La Carlota City College

investments
19. Distance in three hours at x mph 3x
20. Sum of a number and 20 x+20
21. Product of a number and 3 3x
22. Quotient of a number and 8 x ÷8
23. Four times as much 4x
24. Three is four more than a number 3=x+4

FACTS TO REMEMBER:
1. Times as much means multiply
2. More than means add
3. Decreased by means subtract
4. Increased by means add
5. Separate 28 into two parts mean find two numbers whose sum is 28
6. Percent of means multiply
7. Is, was, will be, become the equal sign (=) in algebra
8. If 7 exceeds 2 by 5, then 7-2=5. Exceeds becomes a minus sign (-) and by becomes an
equals sign (=).
9. No unit labels such as feet, degrees, and dollars are used in equations. In this book we
have left these off the answers as well. Just refer to the “Let x=” statement to find the
unit label for the answer.

Example1. The sum of three consecutive numbers is 42. What are the numbers?
Solution:
Let x = the first consecutive number 13 x +
1= the second consecutive number 13+1 = 14
x + 2= the third consecutive number 13+2 = 15
42
Solving the equation:
x + x +1 +x + 2 = 42
3x+3 = 42
3x = 42 – 3
3x = 39
3 3
x = 13 first consecutive number
Math 116- Principles and Strategies in Teaching Mathematics La Carlota City College

2. One number is 4 less than twice another. If the smaller number is divided by two and the larger
number is divided by 3, the sum of their quotient is 8. What are the numbers?
Solution:
Let n = the smaller number 8
2n -4 = the larger number 12 Forming
the equation we have:
n + 2n -4 ₌ 8 LCD = 6 3n + 2(2n-4) = 48
2 3 3n + 4n – 8 = 48
7n =48 + 8
7n = 56
7 7
n= 8
Answer: n = 8 –the smaller number
2(8) – 4 =12- the larger number

Checking: 8/2 + 12/3 = 8

4+4= 8
8=8

3. Ten less than four times a certain number is 18. Determine the number.
Solution: Let x be the number.
4x – 10 = 18 4(7) -10 = 18
4x = 18 + 10 28-10 = 18
4x = 28 18=18
4 4
x=7
4. The sum of two numbers is 37. If the larger is divided by the smaller, the quotient is 3 and the
remainder is 5. Find the numbers?
Solution: Let x be the smaller the number 8
and 37 – x be the larger number . 37-8 = 29
37 – x = 3 +5 x
x x

Solving: 37 –x = 3x + 5 37-x= 37-8=29

37 – 5 =3x + x
32 = 4x
4 4
8= x 29/8 = 3 r 5
30 7 30/7 = 4 r 2
25 12 25/12 = 2 r 1
35 2 35/2 = 16 r 3
Math 116- Principles and Strategies in Teaching Mathematics La Carlota City College

5. Mia is 6 years older than Marie. Eight years ago, Mia was seven times as old as Marie. How
old is each girl?
Let x = Marie’s present age, x – 8 = age of Marie 8 years ago 1
x+6 = Mia’s present age (x+6) – 8 = age of Mia 8 years ago 7
Equation: (x+6) – 8 = 7(x – 8)
x + 6 – 8 = 7x – 56
x – 2 = 7x - 56
-2 + 56 = 7x – x
54 = 6x
6 6

9 = x Marie’s present age

x + 6 = 9 + 6 = 15 Mia’s present age

6. A man is 41 years old and his son is 9. In how many years will the father be three times as
old as the son?
Let x be the required number of years
Father’s age=41
Son’s age =9
41 + x
9+x

41 + x = 3 (9 + x)
41 + x = 27 + 3x
41 – 27 = 3x – x
14 = 2x
x = 7 years
41 + 7=48
9+ 7= 16

7. A boy is 2 years more than twice as old as his brother. The sum of their ages is 9 years more
than the age of their sister. If the sister is 3 years younger than the older boy, find the age of
each.
Let x = age of younger boy
2x + 2 = age of older boy 2x+2 = 2(6)+2 = 12+2 = 14 years -age of the older boy
6 + 14 – 9 = 20 – 9 = 11years –age of sister

(x+2x+2) – 9 = (2x+2) – 3
3x + 2 – 9 = 2x + 2 – 3
3x – 2x = 2 - 3 + 9 – 2
x= 9–3
x = 6years -age of younger boy
Math 116- Principles and Strategies in Teaching Mathematics La Carlota City College

8. Ten years ago Jorge was four times as old as Charles. Now he is only twice as old as Charles.
Find their present ages.
Let x be Charles present age Equation: 2x – 10 = 4(x-10)
2x = Jorge’s present age 2x – 10 = 4x - 40
-10 + 40 = 4x – 2x
30 = 2x
2x = 30
x = 15 years Charles present age
2x = 2 (15) = 30 years –Jorge present age

9. The sum of three consecutive odd nos. is 39. What are the three consecutive numbers?

let

x = 1st no 11

X+2 2nd no. 13

X+4- 3rd no. 15

39

x+x+2+ x+4 = 39

3x +6 = 39

3x = 39-6

3x = 33

3 3

x = 11