Introduction to Variables

Lesson Objective:

Students will be able to write expressions with variables to be able to identify the missing information in problems.

Student-Facing Learning Target:

I can write expressions with unknown numbers using variables.

Vocabulary:

1.) Variable: a letter that stands for an unknown number 2.) Expression: a group of symbols, variables, and numbers used to represent a value or an amount 3.) Equation: a group of symbols, variables, numbers and has an equal sign 4.) Substitution: the process of replacing a variable with a number

Do Now:

Erika's classroom has a width of 18 feet and a length of 20 feet. What is the area of Erika's classroom?

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Part One: Using and Defining Variables

When we have unknown information we need to fill the spot with something. When it comes to math we fill the unknown information with a variable. 1.) Sarah and Miranda combine their students for an activity. a.) Write an expression to represent how many students are doing the activity. Step One: Identify all information that is provided and identify variables. There are two classes being combined. We don't know how many students are in Sarah's class so let us represent the number with S. We don't know how many students are in Miranda's class so let us represent the number with M. We don't know the total amount of students participating so let us represent the number with T. Step Two: Identify the operation that is being used. When we think of combining two groups to find the total amount participating we use addition. Step Three: Write an expression using variables when needed. S + M = T b.) If Sarah had 12 students and Miranda had 6 students, how many students are doing the activity? We now have numbers to plug in to our equation so we substitute the known information into the equation 12 + 6 = T 18 = T There are 18 students that are doing the activity.

2.) Israel makes $4.50 an hour working as a waiter.

a.) Write an expression to represent how much money Israel makes. Let x represent hours and m represent the total money made.

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b.) Write an expression to represent how much money Israel makes if he also made $125.65 in tips this week. Let x represent hours and m represent the total money made.

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c.) How much money did Israel make with tips if he worked 10 hours this week?

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3.) Maureen gives her daughter an allowance of $2 every week plus $0.50 for each load of laundry she does.

a.) Write an expression to represent how much money her daughter gets during the week. Let L represent the number of loads of laundry and A represent the allowance her daughter will receive.

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b.) If her daughter did 3 loads of laundry this week, how much does Maureen owe her daughter?

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4.) Anna and Elsa combined their tips, and then divided them equally.

a.) Write an expression to represent how much money each woman gets. Let A represent Anna's tips, E represent Elsa's tips, and T represent the total each gets.

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b.) If Anna got $48 in tips and Elsa got $95 in tips, how much did each woman get after they combined their tips and split them?

Introduction to Variables

Lesson Objective:

Student-Facing Learning Target:

Vocabulary:

Do Now:

Part One: Using and Defining Variables

2.) Israel makes $4.50 an hour working as a waiter.

3.) Maureen gives her daughter an allowance of $2 every week plus $0.50 for each load of laundry she does.

4.) Anna and Elsa combined their tips, and then divided them equally.

Additional Practice Problems

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Introduction to Variables

Lesson Objective:

Student-Facing Learning Target:

Vocabulary:

Do Now:

Part One: Using and Defining Variables

2.) Israel makes $4.50 an hour working as a waiter.

3.) Maureen gives her daughter an allowance of $2 every week plus $0.50 for each load of laundry she does.

4.) Anna and Elsa combined their tips, and then divided them equally.

Additional Practice Problems

Lesson 1 PP.pdf

Lesson 1 PP2.pdf

Lesson 1 PP3.pdf

New Resources

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