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Write an expression for an unknown quantity in a problem

Year 6 maths · Fieldbook Learning

Name ______________________ Date __________

Let the letter stand for the unknown number. Follow the story step by step, and write one expression with that letter.

  1. Diego shares some stamps equally among 3 friends. Let t be the number of stamps. Write an expression for how many stamps each friend gets.
  2. Diego shares some stickers equally among 2 friends. Let k be the number of stickers. Write an expression for how many stickers each friend gets.
  3. Priya has 9 cards. Priya gets some more. Let m be the number of cards Priya gets. Write an expression for how many cards Priya has now. Write the part with the letter first.
  4. Chen has 7 stamps. Chen gets some more. Let n be the number of stamps Chen gets. Write an expression for how many stamps Chen has now. Write the part with the letter first.
  5. Each notebook costs $4. Diego buys some notebooks. Let p be the number of notebooks. Write an expression for the total cost in dollars.
  6. Chen has some shells and gives away 11 of them. Let t be the number of shells Chen starts with. Write an expression for how many shells Chen has left.
  7. Each notebook costs $6. Sam buys some notebooks. Let x be the number of notebooks. Write an expression for the total cost in dollars.
  8. Priya has some pencils and gives away 20 of them. Let x be the number of pencils Priya starts with. Write an expression for how many pencils Priya has left.
  9. A club charges $6 to join and $6 for each month. Let y be the number of months. Write an expression for the total cost in dollars. Write the part with the letter first.
  10. Omar has some shells and gets 9 more. Omar then shares all of them equally among 5 friends. Let x be the number of shells Omar starts with. Write an expression for how many shells each friend gets.
  11. Each pack holds some shells. Priya buys 8 packs and 7 extra shells. Let t be the number of shells in one pack. Write an expression for the total number of shells. Write the part with the letter first.
  12. Ava has $12 and buys some snacks that cost $2 each. Let x be the number of snacks. Write an expression for how many dollars Ava has left.
  13. A club charges $15 to join and $3 for each month. Let n be the number of months. Write an expression for the total cost in dollars. Write the part with the letter first.
  14. Omar has $34 and buys some snacks that cost $8 each. Let x be the number of snacks. Write an expression for how many dollars Omar has left.
  15. Ava has $26 and buys some snacks that cost $4 each. Let n be the number of snacks. Write an expression for how many dollars Ava has left.
  16. Each pack holds some stamps. Ava buys 6 packs and 4 extra stamps. Let n be the number of stamps in one pack. Write an expression for the total number of stamps. Write the part with the letter first.
  17. Each pack holds some shells. Chen buys 3 packs and 25 extra shells. Let k be the number of shells in one pack. Write an expression for the total number of shells. Write the part with the letter first.
  18. Each pack holds some stickers. Ava buys 9 packs and 6 extra stickers. Let m be the number of stickers in one pack. Write an expression for the total number of stickers. Write the part with the letter first.
  19. Priya has some cards and gets 22 more. Priya then shares all of them equally among 9 friends. Let y be the number of cards Priya starts with. Write an expression for how many cards each friend gets.
  20. Maya has $68 and buys some snacks that cost $3 each. Let y be the number of snacks. Write an expression for how many dollars Maya has left.
More free practice: fieldbooklearning.com/au/practice/year-6/write-an-expression-for-an-unknown-quantity-in-a-problem/

Answer key: Write an expression for an unknown quantity in a problem

  1. t ÷ 3
  2. k ÷ 2
  3. m + 9
  4. n + 7
  5. 4p
  6. t − 11
  7. 6x
  8. x − 20
  9. 6y + 6
  10. (x + 9) ÷ 5
  11. 8t + 7
  12. 12 − 2x
  13. 3n + 15
  14. 34 − 8x
  15. 26 − 4n
  16. 6n + 4
  17. 3k + 25
  18. 9m + 6
  19. (y + 22) ÷ 9
  20. 68 − 3y