Question

Anderson has $50 in his savings account. He deposits $5 every week. His father also deposits $20 into the account every time Anderson mows the lawn. His savings account balance can be shown with the following expression:

50 + 5w + 20m

Part A: Identify a coefficient, a variable, and a constant in this expression. (3 points)

Part B: If Anderson saves for 10 weeks and mows the lawn 2 times, how much will he have in his account? Show your work to receive full credit. (4 points)

Part C: If Anderson had $85 in his savings account, would the coefficient, variable, or constant in the expression change? Why? (3 points)

Answer 1

We are given the equation of the savings (s) as:

s = 50 + 5 w + 20 m

Part A.

Coefficient = 5 and 20

Variable = w and m

Constant = 50

Part B.

w = 10

m = 2

Therefore the total savings is:

s = 50 + 5 (10) + 20 (2)

s = $140

Part C.

The coefficient and the constant values are considered as fixed value because they do not change. Therefore only the variable value would change, however the expression 50 + 5 w + 20 m would still be the same. That is only the values of the variable change.