In this OpenStax Prealgebra 2E lesson, students learn to solve coin word problems and ticket and stamp word problems by setting up algebraic equations using the number-times-value-equals-total-value relationship. Learners practice organizing information in tables and writing variable expressions to represent unknown quantities before solving multi-step equations. This lesson builds on prior skills in decimal operations, the distributive property, and solving equations with variables on both sides.
Section 1
📘 Solve Money Applications
This lesson teaches you to solve money-related word problems by setting up algebraic equations. You'll organize information for items like coins or tickets using the core formula: .
You've got the foundation! Next, you'll walk through interactive examples for coin, ticket, and stamp problems, then master the technique with targeted practice cards.
Section 2
Finding total value of coins
For coins of the same type, the total value can be found as follows:
where number is the number of coins, value is the value of each coin, and total value is the total value of all the coins. To get the total value of all the coins, add the total value of each type of coin.
Section 3
Solve a coin word problem
Step 1. Read the problem. Make sure you understand all the words and ideas, and create a table to organize the information.
Step 2. Identify what you are looking for.
Step 3. Name what you are looking for. Choose a variable to represent that quantity.
Section 4
Setting up money equations
To set up an equation for money problems, first define variables for the number of each item. Then, write an equation by adding the total values of all the types of items. For example:
Section 5
Solving ticket and stamp problems
The strategies we used for coin problems can be easily applied to some other kinds of problems too. Problems involving tickets or stamps are very similar to coin problems, for example. Like coins, tickets and stamps have different values; so we can organize the information in tables much like we did for coin problems.
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Section 1
📘 Solve Money Applications
This lesson teaches you to solve money-related word problems by setting up algebraic equations. You'll organize information for items like coins or tickets using the core formula: .
You've got the foundation! Next, you'll walk through interactive examples for coin, ticket, and stamp problems, then master the technique with targeted practice cards.
Section 2
Finding total value of coins
For coins of the same type, the total value can be found as follows:
where number is the number of coins, value is the value of each coin, and total value is the total value of all the coins. To get the total value of all the coins, add the total value of each type of coin.
Section 3
Solve a coin word problem
Step 1. Read the problem. Make sure you understand all the words and ideas, and create a table to organize the information.
Step 2. Identify what you are looking for.
Step 3. Name what you are looking for. Choose a variable to represent that quantity.
Section 4
Setting up money equations
To set up an equation for money problems, first define variables for the number of each item. Then, write an equation by adding the total values of all the types of items. For example:
Section 5
Solving ticket and stamp problems
The strategies we used for coin problems can be easily applied to some other kinds of problems too. Problems involving tickets or stamps are very similar to coin problems, for example. Like coins, tickets and stamps have different values; so we can organize the information in tables much like we did for coin problems.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter