how do variables help model real world situations

Question

anonymous · Answer

Say you want to purchase a video game that costs $47. Your parents have previously agreed to help pay for it, but only the part you can't afford after saving up for three weeks. You want to figure out how much they are going to have to pay after your three weeks of work are up and you have saved $27.

Take the variable y and label it: Money I earn in 3 weeks
Take the variable m and label it: Money my parents will give me

Next, set up an equation: 47-y=m
Plug in y: 47-27=m
and your answer will be: My parents will give me $20.

This is a model of a real world situation that uses variables if that's what you were looking for.