Here’s the step-by-step solution to each word problem on the worksheet:
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1) The sum of three consecutive numbers is eighty-four. What is the smallest of the three numbers?
Let the three consecutive numbers be:
x, x+1, x+2
Sum:
x + (x+1) + (x+2) = 84
3x + 3 = 84
3x = 81
x =
27
✔ Answer: 27
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2) Tom sold half of his comic books and then bought six more. He now has twelve. How many did he begin with?
Let original number =
x
He sold half → left with x/2
Then bought 6 → now has x/2 + 6 = 12
x/2 + 6 = 12
x/2 = 6
x =
12
✔ Answer: 12
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3) Oceanside Bike Rental Shop charges 14 dollars plus 9 dollars an hour for renting a bike. Joan paid 86 dollars to rent a bike. How many hours did she pay to have the bike checked out?
Let hours =
h
Cost = 14 + 9h = 86
9h = 86 - 14 = 72
h = 72 ÷ 9 =
8
✔ Answer: 8 hours
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4) The sum of three consecutive even numbers is 156. What is the smallest of the three numbers?
Consecutive even numbers:
x, x+2, x+4
Sum:
x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 156
3x + 6 = 156
3x = 150
x =
50
✔ Answer: 50
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5) The sum of three consecutive odd numbers is one hundred and eleven. What is the smallest of the three numbers?
Consecutive odd numbers:
x, x+2, x+4
Sum:
x + (x+2) + (x+4) = 111
3x + 6 = 111
3x = 105
x =
35
✔ Answer: 35
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6) On Monday, 301 students went on a trip to the zoo. All 7 buses were filled and 7 students had to travel in cars. How many students were in each bus?
Total students = 301
Students in cars = 7
So students in buses = 301 - 7 =
294
Number of buses = 7
Students per bus = 294 ÷ 7 =
42
✔ Answer: 42
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7) Mike bought four new baseball trading cards to add to his collection. The next day his dog ate half of his collection. There are now only twenty-nine cards left. How many cards did Mike start with?
Let original number =
x
After adding 4: x + 4
Dog ate half → left with (x + 4)/2 = 29
Multiply both sides by 2:
x + 4 = 58
x = 58 - 4 =
54
✔ Answer: 54
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8) Sara had 207 dollars to spend on 9 books. After buying them she had 18 dollars. How much did each book cost?
Total spent = 207 - 18 =
189
Number of books = 9
Cost per book = 189 ÷ 9 =
21
✔ Answer: $21
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9) Benny spent half of his allowance going to the movies. He washed the family car and earned 8 dollars. What is his weekly allowance if he ended with 16 dollars?
Let allowance =
x
Spent half → left with x/2
Earned $8 → now has x/2 + 8 = 16
x/2 = 16 - 8 = 8
x =
16
✔ Answer: $16
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10) Sandy bought a soft drink for two dollars and five candy bars. She spent a total of seventeen dollars. How much did each candy bar cost?
Let cost per candy bar =
c
Total cost: 2 + 5c = 17
5c = 15
c =
3
✔ Answer: $3
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✔ Final Answers:
1)
27
2)
12
3)
8
4)
50
5)
35
6)
42
7)
54
8)
21
9)
16
10)
3
Let me know if you’d like these explained differently or need help setting up equations!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of simple algebra word problems worksheet.
