Question

Once I have the equation, I know how to answer, the problem is teaching my son how to write an equation. Advice?

Answer 1

Is this mainly about writing equations for word problems?

Answer 2

Yes

Answer 3

Try to break down how you determined the equation in the first place

Starting by converting any unknown values into a variable is helpful
then writing how it relates to others

Also, you can just write it in word form first
as in, Susie's age = double Sam's age = 2*Sam's age

Answer 4

Ok, I'm going to write the word problem and how I would write the equation (don't laugh). In a rowing race, the distance between the teams in first and second place is 5.7 meters. The distance between the teams in second and third place is one-third that distance. How much farther ahead is the team in first place than the team in third?
x=5.7-1/3
Am I close?

Answer 5

almost, the distance between first and third looks like this
I think a drawing for this problem would help