Student Goal

I can write and evaluate simple expressions and use formulas to solve problems.

Why It Matters

Expressions and formulas give students a way to describe patterns, unknowns, area, and volume clearly.

Warm-Up

Warm-Up 1

Find the area of a rectangle with length 6 and width 4.

Warm-Up 2

Evaluate n + 5 when n = 8.

Warm-Up 3

What does a variable stand for?

Short Lesson

Standard Focus:

NC.6.EE: Expressions and Equations

Student-Friendly Standard Goal:

I can use expressions, equations, and geometry formulas to represent and solve problems.

  • A variable is a letter that stands for a number.
  • To evaluate an expression, replace the variable with the given number and calculate carefully.
  • Formulas are reusable plans. For example, the area of a rectangle is A = l x w.

Guided Examples

Guided Example 1

Use a Volume Formula

A rectangular prism has length 5, width 3, and height 2. What is its volume?

Step 1

V = l x w x h

Which numbers should be substituted?

Guided Example 2

Evaluate an Expression

Evaluate 2x + 1 when x = 5.

Step 1

2x + 1

What should replace x?

Practice

Problem 1

Evaluate x + 9 when x = 6.

Problem 2

Evaluate 4n when n = 7.

Problem 3

Solve m + 8 = 20.

Problem 4

True or false: The area of a rectangle is length times width.

Problem 5

Find the area of a triangle with base 8 and height 6. Use A = 1/2bh.

Reflection

How are you feeling about today's skill?

Optional reflection: Optional prompt: How can a formula help you solve a problem?