Solving Mathematical Word Problems: Candy Bars and Soft Drinks

Math word problems often come in various forms, requiring careful reading and logical reasoning. This article will guide you through two common scenarios involving soft drinks and candy bars, demonstrating how to solve them step-by-step.

Scenario 1: Tim's Shopping

Tim bought a soft drink for 2 dollars and 8 candy bars for a total of 18 dollars. How much did each candy bar cost?

To solve this problem, let's denote the cost of each candy bar as x dollars. According to the problem, the total cost of one soft drink and eight candy bars equals 18 dollars. This can be expressed by the equation:

2 8x 18

Solution Steps:

Subtract 2 from both sides of the equation:

8x 18 - 2

Simplify the right-hand side:

8x 16

Divide both sides of the equation by 8 to solve for x:

x 16 / 8

Calculate the value of x:

x 2

Therefore, each candy bar costs 2 dollars.

Scenario 2: Sara's Shopping

Sara spent a total of 19 dollars. She bought soft drinks for 4 dollars. She then spent the remaining money on 5 candy bars. How much did each candy bar cost?

Solution Steps:

Subtract the cost of the soft drinks from the total amount spent:

19 - 4 15

Divide the remaining amount by the number of candy bars:

15 / 5 3

Therefore, each candy bar costs 3 dollars.

Common Themes in Mathematical Word Problems

This article showcases two common themes in mathematical word problems: algebraic equations and arithmetic operations. Both scenarios require understanding the relationship between the given information and the unknowns, followed by careful calculation.

Conclusion

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