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Grade 8 · Math

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 - Challenge Me

NameDate

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

  1. Ari has 3 gift packs, each with x stickers and 2 bonus stickers. That equals 2 sheets of x stickers and 9 loose ones. What equation fits, with x for the stickers?

  2. Bo fills 4 boxes, each with x crayons and 3 pencils. That equals 2 tubs of x crayons and 30 loose crayons. What equation fits, with x for the crayons in a box or tub?

  3. Esme fills 2 shelves, each with x books and 5 comics. That equals one cart of x books and 18 comics. What equation fits, with x for the books?

  4. Kira is on page 15 of a comic, reading 9 a day, and page 50 of a novel, reading 4 a day. When do the pages match, and at what page? Type: days, page.

  5. Milo's sprout is 14 cm and grows 1/2 cm a week; a bean plant is 2 cm and grows 2 cm a week. What is w?

  6. Two buckets sit under dripping taps in Noah's garden: one has 2 L and gains 5/2 L a day; the other has 12 L and gains 1/2 L a day. What is d?

  7. Pia's red kite is at 4 m, climbing 3/2 m a minute; the blue kite is at 11 m, climbing 1/3 m. What is x?

  8. Ren's two bean plants are 5 cm and 11 cm, and both grow 2 cm a week. Ren writes 2w + 5 = 2w + 11. When are they the same height?

    • After 6 weeks: the gap is 6.
    • Never: they stay 6 cm apart.
    • Always: they change at the same rate.
    • After 0 weeks: the w pieces cancel.
  9. Tala is on page 15 of one book and page 40 of another, reading 10 pages a day in each. Tala writes 10d + 15 = 10d + 40. When do the pages match?

    • Never: they stay 25 pages apart.
    • Always: they change at the same rate.
    • After 0 days: the d pieces cancel.
    • After 25 days: the gap is 25.
  10. Two block towers by Zee's window are 30 and 24 blocks tall, and both gain 3 blocks a day. Zee writes 3d + 30 = 3d + 24. When are they equal?

    • Never: they stay 6 blocks apart.
    • After 0 days: the d pieces cancel.
    • After 6 days: the gap is 6.
    • Always: they change at the same rate.
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8th grade Write an equation for a story, and a story for an equation worksheet – printable
Print: 123456

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

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