how would you create your own example of a math problem with avariable

Question

how would you create your own example of a math problem with  avariable

anonymous · Answer

I find it's easiest to start with an answer and then work backwards from there.

lgbasallote · Answer

i find it easiest to start with a story plot

lgbasallote · Answer

then put in the math stuffs later

anonymous · Answer

Yes, relating to real world situations is important :)

lgbasallote · Answer

in fact...just using grade school problems can work

I had 3 apples. I gave one apple to Mrs. Lee. How much do I have left?

unklerhaukus · Answer

i want to buy as many red frogs "$x$" as i can with my money $M=$2$
one red frog costs $c=10¢$
$$100¢=$1$$

$$x\times c≤M$$

to solve for the amount of frogs i can buy
isolate the variable $x$
$$x\times c≤M$$$$\downarrow$$$$\frac {x\times c}{c}=\frac Mc$$$$\frac {x\cancel{\times c}}{\cancel{c}}=\frac Mc$$$$x≤\frac Mc$$

Now substitute in the variables we know 
$$x≤\frac{$2}{10¢}$$
$$x≤\frac{$2\times\frac{100¢}{1$}}{10¢}$$$$x≤\frac{200¢}{10¢}$$$$x≤20$$
so i can buy 20 red frogs