Applications

Applications of
of Linear
Linear
Equations
Equations in
in One
One
Variable
Variable
Solving
Solving Word
Word Problems
Problems
“Word
Problems
scare me!”
“Word
Problems
make me
nervous!”
“Word
Problems?
I just skip
them!”
Don’t Worry!
With just 5
easy steps, you
can become…

a Word Problem
Whiz!
 Step 1:
READ and UNDERSTAND the
problem.

What are you trying to figure out?

 Step 2:
Represent the unknown by
means of variable.

Look for clues.

 Step 3
Write an equation using the facts
in the problem.

Apply what you have learned

on translating phrases into
expressions, and sentences
into equations.
 Step 4
Solve the equation.

Work it out!
 Step 5
Interpret and check your answer.

LOOK BACK.

Does your answer fit the question?

 We did it!
We are now
Word
Problem
Whizzes!
Here are the steps once more:
Step 1 – READ and UNDERSTAND the
problem. (EXPLORE)
Step 2 – Represent the unknown by means
of variable. (REPRESENT)
Step 3 – Write an equation using the
facts in the problem. (TRANSLATE)
Step 4 – SOLVE the equation. (SOLVE)
Step 5 – Interpret and check your
answer. (REFLECT)
NUMBER PROBLEMS
Example 1:
“Five more than twice a number is
three times the difference of that
number and two. Find the number.”
Solution:
Let n = be the number
Equation:
2n + 5 = 3(n – 2)
n=?
n = 11
Therefore,
the number is 11.
Example 2:
“Three consecutive integers sum to 99.
Find the integers.”
Solution:
Let n = be the 1st integer
n + 1 = be the 2nd integer
n + 2 = be the 3rd integer
Equation:
n + (n + 1) + (n + 2) = 99
n=?
n = 32
Therefore,
the three integers are
32, 33 and 34
Example 3:
“Thrice the sum of eight and a
number is twelve less than that same
number. Find the number.”
Solution:
Let n = be the number
Equation:
3(8 + n) = n – 12
n=?
n = -18
Therefore,
the number is -18.
DIGIT PROBLEMS
Important points while solving Algebra
digit problems:
A two- digit number is formed when the
units place digit is multiplied by 1 and
add the result to ten's digit which is
multiplied by 10.
Number formed (original number)
10 x ten’s digit + unit digit
Reversed number
10 x unit digit + ten’s digit
Example 1:
In a two digit number, the units digit
is two more than the tens digit. The
sum of the digits is equal to 1/4 of
the whole number. Find the number.

Solution:
Let x = ten's digit
x+2 = units digit
Number = 10x + (x+2) = 11x+2
Equation:
x+x+2 = 1/4(11x+2)
Multiplying both sides by 4,
4x + 4x + 8 = 11x + 2
8x+8 = 11x+2
8x-11x = 2 - 8
-3x = -6
x = 2 this is the ten's digit
Unit's digit = x+2 = 2+2 = 4
Number = 11x+2 = 11*2+2 = 22+2
= 24
Therefore, the number is 24.
Example 2:
The digit at the tens place of a two-
digit number is twice the digit at
the units place. If the sum of this
number and the number formed by
reversing the digits is 66, find the
number.
Solution:
Let x = the units place digit
2x = tens place digit
Number formed = 10(2x) + x
= 20 x + x = 21x
Reversing the digit:
Units digit = 2x
Tens digit = x
New number formed = 10 (x) + 2x = 10x + 2x
= 12x
Equation:
21x + 12x = 66
33x = 66
x=2
So, unit digit = 2 and tens digit
is 4.
Number = 21x = 21(2) = 42
Number= 42
Example 3:
The sum of the digits of a two-digit
number is 12. If the new number
formed by reversing the digits is less
than the original number by 54, find the
original number.
Solution:
Let x = the units digit
12 – x = tens digit
Original number = 10(12 –x) + x
= 120 – 10x + x = 120 -9x
Original number = 120 – 9x
Reversing the digits :
Units digit = 12 – x
Tens digit = x
New number = 10x + 12 – x = 9x +12
As the new number is less than the
original number by 54;
9x +12 = 120 – 9x -54
9x +12 = 66 – 9x
9x + 9x = 66 -12
18 x = 54
x=3
Original number = 120 – 9x = 120 – 9(3)
= 120 – 27
Original number = 93
AGE PROBLEMS
Example 1:
“Five years ago, I was half the age I
will be in eight years. Find my present
age.”
Solution:
Let n = my present age
n – 5 = five years ago
½ = I was half the age
n + 8 = I will be in eight years
Equation:
n – 5 = ½(n + 8)
n = 18
Therefore,
I am now 18 years
old.
Example 2:
“Ten years from now, Anna will be
four times her age from 5 years ago.
Find her present age.”
Solution:
Let a = be Anna’s present age
a + 10 = ten years from now
a – 5 = Five years ago
Equation:
a + 10 = 4(a – 5)
a = 10
Therefore,
Anna is now 10
years old.
Example 3:
“France is 9 years older than Bryan.
In 7 years, the sum of their ages will
equal to 93. Find both of their ages
now.”
Solution:
Let n = Bryan’s age now
n + 9 = France’s age now
n + 7 = Bryan‘s age in 7 years
n + 16 = France's age in 7 years
Equation:
n + 7 + n + 16 = 93
 n = 35
Therefore,
Bryan is now 35
years old and France
is 44 years old.
GEOMETRY PROBLEMS
Example 1:
“The length of a rectangle is twice
its width. If the perimeter is 72
meters, find the length and width of
the rectangle.”
Solution:
Let n = width of rectangle
2n = length of rectangle
72 = perimeter of rectangle
Equation:
2(n + 2n) = 72
n = 12
Therefore, length of
the rectangle is 24 m
and the width of the
rectangle is 12 m.
Example 2:
“The sides of an isosceles triangle
are each 2 inches longer than the
base. If the perimeter of the triangle
is 97 inches, what are the lengths of
the base and sides of the triangle?”
Solution:
Let x = base length
x + 2 = side length
Equation:
x + (x + 2) + (x + 2) = 97
x = 31
Therefore, the base
length of the triangle is
31 in and each side
length is 33 in.