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8th grade Write an equation for a story, and a story for an equation worksheet

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Write an equation for a story, and a story for an equation

Grade 8 Math Worksheet

NameDate

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

  1. Ari's red kite is at 10 m, climbing 3 m a minute; the blue one is at 25 m, climbing 1.5 m. What equation shows when they are level (x minutes)?

  2. Bo's bean plant is 4 cm, growing 2.5 cm a week; the pea plant is 12 cm, growing 0.5 cm a week. What equation shows when they are equal (w weeks)?

  3. By Jun's door, a sunny snowbank is 30 cm, losing 4 cm a day; a shady one is 18 cm, losing 1 cm a day. What equation shows when they are equal (d days)?

  4. Kira's bean plant is 3 cm and grows 2.5 cm a week; the pea plant is 11 cm and grows 0.5 cm a week. When are they equal? What is w?

  5. Two buckets sit under dripping taps at Luz's camp: one has 2 L and gains 3.5 L a day, the other has 17 L and gains 0.5 L a day. What is d?

  6. Milo's red kite is at 2 m, climbing 1.75 m a minute; the blue kite is at 8 m, climbing 0.25 m a minute. What is x?

  7. Snowbanks by Noah's school: one is 40 cm, losing 2 cm a day; the other is 61 cm, losing 5 cm a day. After how many days are they equal?

  8. Pia has the equation 3w + 8 = w + 20, with w the number of weeks. Which story fits it?

    • One plant is 8 cm and grows 3 cm a week; another is 20 cm and grows 1 cm a week.
    • One plant is 3 cm and grows 8 cm a week; another is 1 cm and grows 20 cm a week.
    • One plant is 8 cm and grows 3 cm a week; when is it 20 cm?
    • One plant is 20 cm and grows 3 cm a week; another is 8 cm and grows 1 cm a week.
  9. Ren has the equation 4d + 15 = 2d + 35, with d the number of days. Which story fits it?

    • One tower is 35 blocks tall and gains 4 blocks a day; another is 15 blocks tall and gains 2 blocks a day.
    • One tower is 15 blocks tall and gains 4 blocks a day; when is it 35 blocks tall?
    • One tower is 15 blocks tall and gains 4 blocks a day; another is 35 blocks tall and gains 2 blocks a day.
    • One tower is 4 blocks tall and gains 15 blocks a day; another is 2 blocks tall and gains 35 blocks a day.
  10. Tala has the equation 5x + 2 = 2x + 20, with x the number of minutes. Which story fits it?

    • One kite is 2 m and climbs 5 m a minute; another is 20 m and climbs 2 m a minute.
    • One kite is 20 m and climbs 5 m a minute; another is 2 m and climbs 2 m a minute.
    • One kite is 5 m and climbs 2 m a minute; another is 2 m and climbs 20 m a minute.
    • One kite is 2 m and climbs 5 m a minute; when is it 20 m?
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8th grade Write an equation for a story, and a story for an equation worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Write an equation for a story, and a story for an equation. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can write an equation such as 3w + 5 = w + 11 for a story where two amounts change, and pick the story that fits an equation.
  • I can solve it with the bars and say what the answer means in the story.
  • I can tell when two amounts never match: the letter pieces cancel and leave a false line.

Standard: state-only (CCSS 7.EE.B.4a)

Words to know

start: The amount at time 0: the plain piece of the bar.

rate: How much the amount changes each step: the number with the letter.

equation: Two bars of equal value: the moment the two amounts match.

read back: Put the answer into the story to find the amount.

Common mistakes

Your child mixed up the starting amount and the amount added each time.

Your child put each starting amount with the other thing's rate.

Your child added the letter pieces from the two sides instead of taking the same pieces off both.

What to say

Ask: which number is there at the start, before any time passes?

Ask: which thing starts at that amount?

Ask: when the same pieces come off both bars, do the bars stay equal?

Questions parents ask

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

Your child mixed up the starting amount and the amount added each time.

How can I help my child with write an equation for a story, and a story for an equation?

Ask: which number is there at the start, before any time passes?

Are these 8th 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 8 math

See all grade 8 math

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