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Chapter 3: Q. 64 (page 317)

When you start to solve a word problem, how do you decide what to let the variable represent?

Short Answer

Expert verified
  1. Need to read the problem two or three times if necessary.
  2. Identify the keywords.
  3. Choose a variable to represent a quantity by using any letter say xor p.
  4. Try to translate it into equation and solving the equation using good algebraic techniques.
  5. Check the answer in the problem to make sure it makes sense.

Step by step solution

01

Step1.The points we need to remember when we represent the variable:

  1. Read the word problem. Make sure you understand all the word and ideas. You may need to read the problem two or more times. If there are words you don’t understand, look them up in a dictionary or on the internet.
  2. Identify what you are looking for.
  3. Name what you are looking for. Choose a variable to represent that quantity.
02

Step2.Steps after choosing the variable.

  1. Translate into an equation. It may be helpful to first restate the problem in one sentence before translating.
  2. Solve the equation using good algebra techniques.
  3. Check the answer in the problem. Make sure it makes sense.
  4. Answer the question with a complete sentence.

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