What it means
State the meaning of variables in plain language first. Variables has definitions with worked examples.
Same symbol, same meaning
If a symbol tied to variables appears more than once, it should stand for the same quantity unless the problem defines it differently.
Try it
Example: “In this problem, x is the ticket price in dollars.” If you cannot finish that kind of sentence, list what is known and what you need before you rearrange anything.
Check the numbers
Core lesson
Related: Variables. Use the calculator with your own numbers when the example is not close to your case.