This question asks how students can formulate linear equations from worded questions.

The first step is to give each person an algabraic symbol. j for John, s for Sandra and k for Kathy works fine.

Next, students shoud identify key words in the question that translate in to mathematical symbols. In this case, 'has' means '=', 'more than' means '+' and 'times as many as' means 'x'.

Students should create 3 equations. The first should be J = 12. The next is S = 10 + K. The next is K = 4 x J.

Students should then subsititue J in to K = 4 x J and then substitute that answer in to S = 10 + K in order to find S.

The final answer should be 58 marbles.

3x + 2 = 11. what is x?

Related Maths GCSE answers

John has 12 marbles. Sandra has 10 more marbles than Kathy. Kathy has 4 times as many marbles as John. How many marbles does Sandra have?

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Solve these simultaneous equations (2x+y=7 and 3x-y=8) and find the values of Equation: x and Equation: y .

Examine the sequence 1 + 1/3 + (1/3)^2 + … + (1/3)^n Under what condition does it converge? What does it converge to?