What is the first step in solving an algebra word problem?

What is the first step in solving an algebra word problem?

• A. Write an equation.
• B. Solve for the variable.
• C. Define the variable.
• D. Check units.

Answer: (C)

Defining the variable is the essential starting move in algebra word problems. By naming what you don’t know with a symbol, you turn the story into a concrete target to solve for. This clarity shows you exactly what quantity the rest of the problem is about and keeps every relation you form consistent. For example, if the problem asks for a total cost, you might define a variable like x to represent that total cost; if it asks for time, you could define t for the time elapsed. Once the unknown is defined, you translate each sentence into a mathematical relation using that variable and the known values, which lets you write the equation and proceed to solve. Checking units is a good practice later to catch mistakes, but it doesn’t establish the unknown or set up the initial equation. Writing an equation and solving for the variable depend on having a clearly defined unknown, so defining the variable comes first.

Defining the variable is the essential starting move in algebra word problems. By naming what you don’t know with a symbol, you turn the story into a concrete target to solve for. This clarity shows you exactly what quantity the rest of the problem is about and keeps every relation you form consistent. For example, if the problem asks for a total cost, you might define a variable like x to represent that total cost; if it asks for time, you could define t for the time elapsed. Once the unknown is defined, you translate each sentence into a mathematical relation using that variable and the known values, which lets you write the equation and proceed to solve. Checking units is a good practice later to catch mistakes, but it doesn’t establish the unknown or set up the initial equation. Writing an equation and solving for the variable depend on having a clearly defined unknown, so defining the variable comes first.