Q31 Writing Variable Equations from Wiord Problems. Eugene had \( \$ 24 \) to spend on three pencils. After buying them he had \( \$ 18 \). How much did each pencil cost?

To find out how much each pencil cost, we can start by determining how much Eugene spent. He had $24 and was left with $18 after purchasing the pencils, which means he spent \( 24 - 18 = 6 \) dollars. Since he bought three pencils, we can create a variable equation: let \( x \) represent the cost of each pencil. So, the equation is \( 3x = 6 \). Solving for \( x \) gives us \( x = 2 \). Therefore, each pencil cost $2! Finding variable equations in word problems can feel like cracking a code! Keep an eye out for keywords like "total," "left," and "bought," as they often signal how to formulate your equations. For example, the word "spent" guides you to think about the subtraction needed to express how much money was used or saved! Setting these equations up correctly is the first step to revealing the answers hidden in those tricky word problems.