WP9
Creating Your Own Equation
If you cannot find a standard formula to fit a word problem, and you cannot apply equal ratios, you have to create your own equation.
Some of these problems involve a single unknown, such as x. In this case you have to create a single equation. Once you have created the equation, you can plug in values from the question and proceed just as you did with a standard formula. You may have to simplify your equation, as we discussed here in the ALGEBRA section
The key to creating equations is practice. The more equations you create from word questions, the more likely you will be to see what to do.
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These are three resources which explain different approaches to creating an equation:
These are three resources which explain different approaches to creating an equation:
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