1. Steps to Solving Word Problems Step 1: Read the problem, and identify the information it gives. Step 2: Identify what the question is asking, then draw a picture or chart - do whichever works best. Step 3: Introduce a variable, and write equations the problem describes using the variable. Step 4: Solve the equation you made for the variable. Step 5: Finalize and write your answer. Then check your work.

2. Example: Find two numbers whose sum is 91 and whose difference is 41 Step 1: We have 2 numbers, they add up to 91 and are 41 apart. Step 2: Find two numbers that fit criteria. Step 3: Let X be one of the numbers. Now we will write equations that use just X...See Next slide.

3. Step 3: Making equations Since both numbers add up to 91, then we will let X be one number and 91 – X be the other number. So since we have two numbers named, X and (91 – X), we can use these to write an equation using the fact that the difference of these two numbers is 41.

4. Step 4: Solve Equation for X X – (91 – X) = 41 ---> now we will solve for X. X – 91 + X = 41> Distributive Property 2X – 91 = 41> Combine Like Terms 2X = 132> Add 91 to both sides X = 66> Divide Both sides by 2 So we have X = 66

5. Step 5: Finalize Answer Since we now know that X = 62, we have one of the numbers asked for. To get the other number we solve 91 – X and we get... 91 – 66 = 25....So the other number we needed to find was 25. So the numbers we have found are 66 and 25. Now lets check them with the words of the problem.

6. Step 5 Continued: Checkkk It! Question States: Find 2 numbers whose sum is 91 and whose difference is 41. Answer we Got: 66 and 25 Check: 66 + 25 = 91? Yes it does! Check: 66 – 25 = 41? Yes this is true as well! So since our answers fit the criteria, we have verified our solution!