Let's solve each word problem step by step and explain the reasoning.
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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 $ x $ = original number of comic books.
He sold half: $ \frac{x}{2} $ left
Then bought 6: $ \frac{x}{2} + 6 = 12 $
Solve:
$ \frac{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 $ h $ = number of hours.
Cost = $ 14 + 9h = 86 $
$ 9h = 86 - 14 = 72 $
$ h = 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?
Let the numbers be:
- $ 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?
Let the numbers be:
- $ 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 traveled 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 $ x $ = original number of cards.
After adding 4: $ x + 4 $
Dog ate half: $ \frac{1}{2}(x + 4) = 29 $
Multiply both sides by 2:
$ x + 4 = 58 $
$ x = 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?
Money 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 $ x $ = weekly allowance.
Spent half: $ \frac{x}{2} $ left
Then earned $8 → total = $ \frac{x}{2} + 8 = 16 $
Solve:
$ \frac{x}{2} = 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 $ c $ = cost of one candy bar.
Soft drink: $2
5 candy bars: $ 5c $
Total: $ 2 + 5c = 17 $
$ 5c = 15 $
$ c = 3 $
✔ Answer: $3
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✔ Final Answers:
1)
27
2)
12
3)
8 hours
4)
50
5)
35
6)
42
7)
54
8)
$21
9)
$16
10)
$3
Let me know if you'd like this formatted as a printable answer sheet!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of word problems algebra worksheet.