Equation Word Problems Worksheets - Free Printable

Let’s solve each problem one by one. We’ll read the word problem, figure out what it’s asking, and then pick the correct equation from the choices.

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Problem 1:

> Janice has x more years in her box and three times equally with her friend, Talia. Her brother gives her 2 more candy pencils. Janice now has 3 pencils in her box.

Wait — this seems a bit confusingly written. Let’s try to make sense of it.

It says: “Janice has x more years in her box” — that doesn’t make sense. Probably a typo. Likely meant: “Janice has x candy pencils in her box”.

Then: “and three times equally with her friend, Talia.” → Maybe she shares them equally? Or maybe she had some, gave away 3 times something?

Actually, looking at the equations given:

A) (1/3)x + 2 = 3
B) 3x - 2 = 3
C) (1/3)(x - 2) = 3
D) (1/3)x + 3 = 3

And the story ends with: “Janice now has 3 pencils in her box.”

Also: “Her brother gives her 2 more candy pencils.”

So let’s reconstruct:

Maybe Janice started with some number of pencils, shared them (maybe divided by 3?), then got 2 more, and ended up with 3.

Look at option A: (1/3)x + 2 = 3

That could mean: She had x pencils, took 1/3 of them (maybe kept 1/3 after sharing?), then added 2, and now has 3.

That fits: Start with x, keep 1/3 of them → (1/3)x, then add 2 → total is 3.

So: (1/3)x + 2 = 3 → matches the story if we interpret “three times equally with her friend” as dividing into 3 parts and keeping one part.

Yes, that makes sense. So Answer for #1 is A.

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Problem 2:

> A professional measured the average rainfall received in Cities A and B. Both cities received 15 inches of rainfall in total. While City A received x inches of rain, City B experienced three times the amount of rainfall in City A.

So:

City A: x inches
City B: 3 times City A → 3x inches
Total: x + 3x = 4x = 15

But wait — look at the options:

A) 3x + 15 = x
B) x - 3x = 15
C) x + 3x = 15
D) 11 - 3x = x

Option C: x + 3x = 15 → that’s exactly what we just said!

So Answer for #2 is C.

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Problem 3:

> Timothy spent a total of $68 at Macy's. He purchases included a pair of jeans at $32 and 2 t-shirts at $x each.

So:

Jeans: $32
T-shirts: 2 shirts × $x each = 2x
Total: 32 + 2x = 68

Which can be rewritten as: 2x + 32 = 68

Look at options:

A) 3x - 32 = 68
B) 2x + 32 = 68 ← This matches!
C) 2x - 32 = 68
D) 32x + 2 = 68

So Answer for #3 is B.

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Problem 4:

> A customer at a Mexican diner placed an order for 4 burrito bowls which was priced at $x each. He also ordered a plate of nachos for $12.00 and was billed for a total of $32.00.

So:

Burrito bowls: 4 × x = 4x
Nachos: $12
Total: 4x + 12 = 32

Options:

A) 12x + 4(32) = 32
B) 4x + 12(32) = 32
C) 4x + 12 = 32 ← Yes!
D) 4x - 12(32) = 32

So Answer for #4 is C.

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Problem 5:

> The Heart estimates the cost towards a fresh paint job for the elevation of his house. He makes a provision for 12 gallons of paint priced at $x per gallon. The cost of primer supplies and miscellaneous expenses are $204. The total estimated cost for the paint job is $204.

Wait — that can’t be right. If he spends money on paint AND other things, and total is $204, but primer etc. alone are $204? Then paint would have to be free? That doesn’t make sense.

Probably a typo. Let me re-read:

“He makes a provision for 12 gallons of paint priced at $x per gallon. The cost of primer supplies and miscellaneous expenses are $204. The total estimated cost for the paint job is $204.”

That implies: Paint cost + $204 = $204 → so paint cost = 0? Not possible.

Wait — maybe the total is NOT $204? Look at the options — they all equal 204 on the right side.

Perhaps the total is supposed to be higher? But according to the text, it says total is $204.

Alternatively, maybe “the total estimated cost for the paint job is $204” includes everything — so:

Paint: 12 gallons × $x = 12x
Other costs: $204
Total: 12x + 204 = ?

But the problem says total is $204 — so 12x + 204 = 204 → 12x = 0 → x=0? Doesn’t make sense.

Wait — perhaps there’s a mistake in the problem statement. Looking at the options:

A) 12x - 204 = 204
B) 12x + 204 = 204
C) 12x - 204 = 2024
D) 12x + 204 = 2024

Option D: 12x + 204 = 2024 → that would mean total cost is $2024, not $204.

Probably a typo in the problem — likely the total is $2024, not $204.

Because otherwise, none of the options make sense except B, which gives x=0.

In real life, paint jobs cost more than $204 total if you’re buying 12 gallons plus supplies.

So likely, the total is $2024.

Thus: 12x (paint) + 204 (other) = 2024 → Option D.

I think that’s the intended answer.

So Answer for #5 is D.

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Final Answers:

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. C
5. D