Question

variables and expressions
grade 5 pre - algebra worksheet
write an expression to answer each question. state what the variable is.
the first one is done for you as an example
john scored 3 more points than james. how many points did john score?

1. jasmine is three times as old as her brother michael. how old is jasmine?
2. carl has n colored - pens for his artwork. if his mother gives him 11 more colored pens, how many colored - pens does he have in all?
3. jimmy works 20 days in a month. if he was absent for d days last month, how many days did he work?
4. sarah has m baskets of mangoes. if she will be able to sell 8 baskets of mangoes, how many baskets of mangoes will be left?
5. dennis shared his p marbles among his 5 friends. how many marbles did each friend receive?
6. jenny earns $2 for every dress she manages to sell. how much will she earn for b dresses?
7. sonny has 12 more playing cards than jamie. how may playing cards does sonny have?
8. the width of the rectangle is 12 cm shorter than its length. what is the measurement of the width?
9. anne bought a laptop for $w after receiving a discount of $15. what is the original price of the laptop?
10. flynn bought n pairs of socks for a total of $8. how much is each pair of socks?

Explanation:

Step1: Let Michael's age be $x$.

Since Jasmine is three - times as old as Michael, the expression for Jasmine's age is $3x$. The variable $x$ represents Michael's age.

Step2: Carl has $n$ colored - pens and his mother gives him 11 more.

The total number of colored - pens Carl has is $n + 11$. The variable $n$ represents the initial number of colored - pens Carl had.

Step3: Jimmy works 20 days in a month and was absent for $d$ days.

The number of days he worked is $20 - d$. The variable $d$ represents the number of days Jimmy was absent.

Step4: Sarah has $m$ baskets of mangoes and sells 8 baskets.

The number of baskets of mangoes left is $m - 8$. The variable $m$ represents the initial number of baskets of mangoes Sarah had.

Step5: Dennis has $p$ marbles and shares them among 5 friends.

Each friend receives $\frac{p}{5}$ marbles. The variable $p$ represents the total number of marbles Dennis had.

Step6: Jenny earns $2$ dollars for each dress she sells. If she sells $b$ dresses.

She will earn $2b$ dollars. The variable $b$ represents the number of dresses Jenny sells.

Step7: Let Jamie have $y$ playing cards. Sonny has 12 more than Jamie.

Sonny has $y + 12$ playing cards. The variable $y$ represents the number of playing cards Jamie has.

Step8: Let the length of the rectangle be $l$. The width is 12 cm shorter than the length.

The width is $l-12$. The variable $l$ represents the length of the rectangle.

Step9: Let the original price of the laptop be $z$. After a discount of 15 dollars, Anne paid $w$ dollars.

The original price is $w + 15$. The variable $w$ represents the price Anne paid for the laptop.

Step10: Flynn bought $n$ pairs of socks for 8 dollars.

The price of each pair of socks is $\frac{8}{n}$. The variable $n$ represents the number of pairs of socks Flynn bought.

Answer:

1. Expression: $3x$, Variable: $x$ = Michael's age
2. Expression: $n + 11$, Variable: $n$ = initial number of Carl's colored - pens
3. Expression: $20 - d$, Variable: $d$ = number of days Jimmy was absent
4. Expression: $m - 8$, Variable: $m$ = initial number of Sarah's mango - baskets
5. Expression: $\frac{p}{5}$, Variable: $p$ = total number of Dennis's marbles
6. Expression: $2b$, Variable: $b$ = number of dresses Jenny sells
7. Expression: $y + 12$, Variable: $y$ = number of Jamie's playing cards
8. Expression: $l-12$, Variable: $l$ = length of the rectangle
9. Expression: $w + 15$, Variable: $w$ = price Anne paid for the laptop
10. Expression: $\frac{8}{n}$, Variable: $n$ = number of pairs of socks Flynn bought