Mathematics/ Equation

  Mathematics                    May 12, 2025

FQ: What real-life problems can I solve using arithmetic and algebra?

Objective: Students will

Determine the solution to a simple equation with one variable

At the end of the lesson students should be able to:

Determine the solution to a simple equation with one variable

 

Content Summary

A variable is a symbolic placeholder for a number we do not yet know. It’s very common to see x or y used as a variable in math problems, but variables can be represented by any symbol or letter.

 

An equation sets two mathematical expressions equal to one another. Example: x + 6 = 20 as shown below with the Cuisenaire rods

 

Teaching/Learning Activities

 

Engage

Students should be placed in small groups and given the following activity. Instruction: Write a story problem for each of the models shown

 

 

Focus Question: Could you model these another way? ( letters and numbers)

 

Explore/ Explain

1.   In their groups students will use Cuisenaire rods (the printable is available in resources) to model their story problems from the engage activity.

2. Students will use Cuisenaire rods to show the equation 3 + x = 7

 

3.   Bryan has some apples. He buys 6 more at the store. Now he has 20 apples.

Write an equation to show this situation.

Watch the video clip on how to solve equations

Explain what you did. Whole discussion on student’s observation of the inverse operations used to solve for the variable.

 

Elaborate/Extend

The students will

Read the following scenario and complete it individually

Bryan has a recipe that uses 5 guavas to make one batch of guava jelly. How many batches of guava jelly can he make from 20 guavas?

Be asked to share how they arrived at their response

 

Evaluate

 

Complete the following:

 

Tier 1

Match each statement to its equation.

One-fourth of  m is 21	b + 3 = 5
3 added to b is 5	4- t = 32
t subtracted from 4 is 32	(1/4)m = 21

 

Tier 2 Solve the following

Mandy has 5 cm of hair cut off each time she goes to the hair salon. If h equals the length of hair before she cuts it and c equals the length of hair after she cuts it, which equation would you use to find the length of Helen's hair after she visit the hair salon?

 

a)   h = 5 − c       c) c = h − 5

b)   c = 5 − h       d) h = c – 5

2.    y - 10 = 15

3.   7 + x = 22

Tier 3

4.   Lara and Mae participated in a quiz contest. They scored 56 points in all. If Lara scored 19 points, how many points did Mae score?

5.   Natalie buys organic almonds priced at $77 from the grocery store. How much did she pay the cashier, if she received $23 in change?

6.   3x + 5 = 23

7.   3 + p = 8

8.   x − 7 = 1

Extended activities

Linear Equations in One Variable | LiveWorksheets |