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How Do You Solve a Word Problem Using a Two-Step Equation with Decimals?

At the mall, Kelly bought some socks for $2.95 a pair. After that, she spent $1.75 on a soda. If she spent a total of $10.60, how many pairs of socks did she buy?

Summary

  1. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
  2. A pair of socks costs $2.95, and the soda cost her $1.75
  3. $10.60 is the total amount Kelly spent at the mall
  4. Kelly bought 3 pairs of socks

Notes

    1. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. This was given to us in the problem
    2. We need to figure out how many $2.95 pairs of socks she bought
    1. Since each pair was $2.95, multiplying the number of pairs by this price will give us the total amount she spent on socks
    2. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Since each pair was $2.95, multiplying the number of pairs by this price will give us the total amount she spent on socks
    2. '2.95s' means the same as '2.95•s', which is the total spent on socks
    3. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. '2.95s' is the total spent on socks
    2. 2.95s + 1.75 = total amount spent
    3. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. The amount spent on the socks and the soda should equal this total amount
    1. The amount spent on the socks and the soda should equal this total amount
    1. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. This will help us solve for our variable 's'
    1. We need to undo any additions or subtractions
    1. Subtracting '1.75' will cancel out the addition of '1.75' on the left side, leaving us with the 's' term
    2. We need to undo any additions or subtractions
    3. 10.60-1.75 = 8.85
    1. We need to undo any multiplications or divisions
    1. We need to undo any multiplications or divisions
    2. Dividing by '2.95' will cancel out the multiplication by '2.95' on the left, giving us 's' by itself
    3. 8.85/2.95 = 3
    4. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Since we ended up with 's=3', that means she bought '3' pairs of socks
    2. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Our answer was 's=3'
    1. Our answer was 's=3'
    2. Our original equation was '2.95s + 1.75 = 10.60'
    3. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Our answer was 's=3'
    2. Our original equation was '2.95s + 1.75 = 10.60'
    3. Does '2.95(3) + 1.75' equal '10.60'?
    4. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Our answer was 's=3'
    2. Our original equation was '2.95s + 1.75 = 10.60'
    3. Does '2.95(3) + 1.75' equal '10.60'?
    4. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Our answer was 's=3'
    2. Our original equation was '2.95s + 1.75 = 10.60'
    3. Does '2.95(3) + 1.75' equal '10.60'?
    4. 2.95(3) = 8.85
    5. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Our answer was 's=3'
    2. Our original equation was '2.95s + 1.75 = 10.60'
    3. Does '2.95(3) + 1.75' equal '10.60'?
    4. 2.95(3) = 8.85
    5. 8.85 + 1.75 = 10.60!
    6. 's' is a variable representing the number of pairs of socks Kelly bought
    1. Since we ended up with '10.60=10.60', our answer of 's=3' was correct