Writing Expressions for Real Situations Worksheets, Grade 6 (6.EE.B.6) – Free PDF + Answer Key

First page of the writing expressions for real situations practice worksheet

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PDFs print on US Letter paper. Free for classroom and home use.

Watch: Variables, Expressions, and Equations Explained | Algebra for Beginners

Key idea

Ask two questions: what happens once? (a standalone term) and what repeats? (multiplies the variable). ‘$30 plus $5 per month’ → 30 + 5m. Watch word order: ‘6 less than n’ is n − 6, not 6 − n.

Sample problems

A ticket costs $4. Write an expression for the cost of t tickets, then find the cost of 8 tickets.
Write an expression for 15 more than a number n, then evaluate it at n = 10.
Write an expression for 6 less than a number n, then evaluate it at n = 14.
A streaming service charges $30 to sign up plus $5 per month. Write an expression for m months, then find the cost of 4 months.

Common mistakes to watch for

Wrote 20h ($60) — added the one-time fee into the hourly rate. A fee paid once never multiplies the variable.
Wrote 7 − n (giving −13) because 7 is said first. In English the order of the words is reversed from the subtraction.
Wrote 5 + b — used addition where the situation repeats a group.

The answer key explains each one, so you can tell what a wrong answer means.

How to use this set

Teach with the slides (about 15 minutes), or watch the video together.
Practice with the worksheet. Questions climb from fluency to application to reasoning.
Check understanding with the exit ticket, and send the homework home.
Mark with the answer key — each answer shows the steps and the most likely mistake.