Scaffolding a Math Problem:

Solving for a Single Variable

 The Problem

Pete and Bryan are cousins. Bryan is three

times older than Pete. If the sum of the age of
the cousins is 36, how old are Pete and Bryan?

Step #1
 Step #1
Bryan is three times as old as Pete, but Pete’s age is unknown. Since it’s an
unknown, let’s use x to represent Pete’s age.

If Pete is x, and Bryan is three times as old as Pete, which picture best represents
their ages?

Bryan Bryan

Pete = x Pete = x
 Oops, Try Again

Hint: How many kids Pete’s age would it

take to equal the age of Bryan?

Return to Step #1
 CORRECT!

Return to the problem.

 Scaffolding a Problem

Pete and Bryan are cousins. Bryan is three times older

than Pete. If the sum of the age of the cousins is 36, how
old are Pete and Bryan?

Bryan = 3x
Step #2
Pete = x
 Step #2

If the sum of the age of the cousins is 36, how can we

write that as an equation.
x = 3x + 36
3x + x = 36
Bryan = 3 x 3x = x + 36
Pete = x
 Oops, Try Again

Hint: If the sum is 36, what do we need to add

together to make 36?

Return to the problem.

 CORRECT!

Return to the problem.

 Step 3
Pete and Bryan are cousins. Bryan is three times older
than Pete. If the sum of the age of the cousins is 36, how
old are Pete and Bryan?
3x + x = 36

Now that you have converted the word problem to an

equation, you can solve for x. If you need help, return to
one of the your guided practice options.
 Sum

The sum is the total when two or more numbers are

added together.
1+1=2

2 is the SUM of 1 + 1.
Return to the problem.
 Times

In math, “times” is another way of saying

multiply.

So three times one can also be written as 3 x 1.

Return to the problem.

 Unknown

In math, the unknown is the number we are trying to

determine in order to solve a problem.

For example, if a + 1 = 3, a is the unknown.

Return to the problem.

 Equation

An equation is a mathematical statement where sets of

numbers and/or unknowns are connected by an equals
sign.
7 + 3 = 10 is an equation.

Return to the problem.