Write an Equation From a Story

1) Find the unknown

Read the story carefully and decide what the question is asking you to find. Choose a variable, such as x, to stand for the unknown amount.

2) Translate words into math

Turn each part of the story into an expression. Look for clue words:

• sum, plus, total → addition
• difference, minus, fewer than → subtraction
• times, product, each → multiplication
• divided by, split equally → division

Be careful with wording like “fewer than” or “less than,” because the order of the numbers matters.

3) Write the equation

Combine the translated parts into an equation that matches the story. Make sure both sides represent the same situation.

4) Simplify the final answer

If the equation contains expressions that can be simplified, do that first. Then solve for the variable by using inverse operations.

5) Check your work

Substitute your answer back into the original equation or story. The two sides should match, and the result should make sense in context.

Quick example pattern

If a story says “a number plus 7 equals 19,” write x + 7 = 19, then solve and check: x = 12 because 12 + 7 = 19.