Arithmetic Grade Six

Lesson One Hundred Sixty-three: Variables


Sometimes we use a letter to take the place of a number in a number sentence: 


	2 + x = 6			3 + y = 4

  	z - 9 = 10			8 - n = 6
These problems are just like the missing numbers problems which you have done in the past. Solving these should be easy. BUT what about problems that look like this? 

	2x = 8				5y = 15

	7z = 14				5n = 30
These problems might seem confusing at first and so here they are in translation: 

	2x = 8    -->   2 * __ = 8				

	5y = 15   -->   5 * __ = 15

	7z = 14	  -->   7 * __ = 14

	5n = 30   -->   5 * __ = 30
As you can see these are just missing number problems involving multiplication. Instead of a blank, we just use a letter. Here are the solutions to these problems: 

	2x = 8
         x = 4

	5y = 15 
         y = 3

	7z = 14	
         z = 2

	5n = 30 
         n = 6

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