Math Word Problems Demystified - A Self Teaching Guide

3. Letx¼one number and 4x¼the other number; then

xþ 4 x¼ 25

5 x¼ 25

51 x

51

¼

25

5

x¼ 5

4 x¼ 4 : 5 ¼ 20

4. Letx¼the number of losses andxþ 2 ¼the number of wins; then

xþxþ 2 ¼ 20

2 xþ 2 ¼ 20

2 xþ 2 
 2 ¼ 20 
 2

2 x¼ 18

21 x

21

¼

18

2

x¼9 (number of losses)

xþ 2 ¼ 9 þ 2 ¼11 (number of wins)

5. Letx¼the number; then

1

3

x¼

1

2

x
 3

62

1



1

31

x¼

63

1



1

21

x
 6  3

2 x¼ 3 x
 18

2 x
 3 x¼ 3 x
 3 x
 18

x¼
 18

x


 1

¼

18

1

x¼ 18

LESSON 9 Solving Number Problems 95