IXL | Solve equations with variables on both sides: word problems

In the final round of the Western Baking Challenge, Max and Colette must each create a display of iced cookies. Colette's cookies cooled off first, and she begins icing them at a rate of 3 cookies per minute. After Collette has iced 12 cookies, Max starts icing his cookies at a rate of 5 cookies per minute. Soon, he will catch up to Collette and the two will have iced the same number of cookies.

Which equation can you use to find

the number of minutes it will take Max to catch up to Colette?

How long will it take Max to catch up to Colette?

Simplify any fractions.

minutes

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Learn with an example

question

Jen plans to sell homemade candles online. She spent $44 on a melting pot, and she will spend $4 on wax and $2 on a jar for each candle she makes. She will sell her candles for $10 each.

Which equation can you use to find

the number of candles Jen must sell for her sales to equal her expenses?

How many candles must Jen sell for her sales to equal her expenses?

candles

solution

You want to find

the number of candles Jen must sell for her sales to equal her expenses.

First, write one expression to represent her sales and another to represent her expenses.

Jen will sell her candles for $10 each. So, if she sells

candles, her total sales can be represented by

Jen spent $44 on a melting pot, and she will spend $4 on wax and $2 on a jar for each candle she makes. So, if she sells

candles, her total expenses can be represented by

You can use the equation

to find the number of candles Jen must sell for her sales to equal her expenses. Solve for

Combine like terms

Subtract

from both sides

Subtract

from both sides

Divide both sides by 4

So, Jen must sell 11 candles for her sales to equal her expenses.

Looking for more? Try these:

Lesson: Multi-step equations

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M.12Solve equations with variables on both sides

M.10Solve one-step and two-step equations: word problems

Lesson: Multi-step equations

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