Grade 6 · Math

6th grade Write an equation for a story worksheet

6 printable versionsBuilding Confidence10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

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Write an equation for a story

Grade 6 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

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Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

1.
Pia had some buttons and found 6 more: 14 in all. Let b be the buttons at first. The bar for 14 is cut into b and 6. Which equation matches the story?
- b + 6 = 14
- 6b = 14
- b − 6 = 14
- b + 14 = 6
2.
Jun rode 23 laps this week, 5 more than Pia. Let s be Pia's laps. The bars show Jun's 23, a shorter bar for Pia, and a gap of 5. Which equation matches the story?
- s = 23 + 5
- 23 + s = 5
- s + 5 = 23
- 5s = 23
3.
Ren has 13 stickers. Kira has 6 more than Ren. Let z be Kira's stickers. The bars show Ren's 13, a longer bar for Kira, and a gap of 6. Which equation matches the story?
- z = 13 − 6
- 6z = 13
- z/6 = 13
- z = 13 + 6
4.
Tala rode 19 laps. Luz rode 3 more than Tala. Let n be Luz's laps. The bars show Tala's 19, a longer bar for Luz, and a gap of 3. Which equation matches the story?
- n = 19 − 3
- n = 19 + 3
- n/3 = 19
- 3n = 19
5.
Esme read 12 pages. Ren read 3 fewer than Esme. Let r be Ren's pages. The bars show Esme's 12, a shorter bar for Ren, and a gap of 3. Which equation matches the story?
- r/3 = 12
- r = 12 + 3
- 3r = 12
- r = 12 − 3
6.
Luz has 21 buttons, 3 times as many as Ari. Let b be Ari's buttons. The bar for Luz's 21 is made of 3 equal bars of b. Which equation matches the story?
- b = 3 × 21
- 3b = 21
- b + 3 = 21
- b − 3 = 21
7.
Noah has 5 acorns. Esme has 3 times as many as Noah. Let a be Esme's acorns. The bar for Esme is made of 3 equal bars, each Noah's 5. Which equation matches the story?
- a = 5 + 3
- a = 5/3
- a = 3 × 5
- a + 3 = 5
8.
Pia has 3 crayons. Jun has 4 times as many as Pia. Let z be Jun's crayons. The bar for Jun is made of 4 equal bars, each Pia's 3. Which equation matches the story?
- z = 4 × 3
- z = 3/4
- z = 3 + 4
- z + 4 = 3
Ren has 21 stickers, 5 more than Kira. The sticker book is getting crowded. Write an equation with e for Kira's stickers, then solve it. How many stickers does Kira have?
Ari has 17 acorns. Noah has 9 fewer than Ari. Write an equation with r for Noah's acorns, then solve it. How many acorns does Noah have?

6th grade Write an equation for a story worksheet – printable — Print: 1 2 3 4 5 6

About this worksheet

Writing equations for stories. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

I can pick the equation that fits a story, whether the unknown is the bigger or the smaller amount.
I can draw who has more and who has less before I choose add or subtract.
I can write the equation and then solve it for the number the story asks about.

Standard: 6.EE.B.6

Words to know

variable: A letter that stands for a number we do not know yet.

equation: A math sentence with an equal sign. Both sides have the same value.

total (in all): The whole amount that the parts add up to.

gap: How much more one bar is than another.

tape (bar) diagram: A bar cut into parts or compared with another bar, to show how the numbers fit.

Common mistakes

Your child chose the operation from a word like "more", "fewer" or "times", so "Leo has 26, 8 more than Mia" became 26 + 8. Try drawing two bars together, one for who has more and one for who has less, before choosing.

Your child used the opposite operation in a story where the unknown is the bigger (or the smaller) amount, for example subtracting when the unknown rope is the longer one. Try drawing the two bars and asking which bar is longer before choosing.

Your child wrote the numbers in the wrong order in a subtraction or a division, so "6 taken from s" became 6 − s. Try asking "which amount did we start with?" and write that one first.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with write an equation for a story?

Are these 6th grade math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 6 math

See all grade 6 math

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