Translating word phrases
Translate word phrases into algebraic expressions.
Objective
Translate word phrases into algebraic expressions.
What it means
Translating means rewriting an English phrase using numbers, variables, and operation symbols.
Key terms
- Sum
- The result of addition.
- Difference
- The result of subtraction.
- Product
- The result of multiplication.
Rules to remember
- "More than" and "less than" reverse the order of the words.
- "Twice" or "double" means multiply by 2.
Step by step
- 1Find the variable phraseIdentify what unknown quantity is being described.
- 2Find the operation wordsSum/plus = +, difference/less = -, product/times = ×, quotient = ÷.
- 3Write the expressionAssemble in the correct order.
Common mistakes
- Writing "5 less than a number" as 5 - x instead of x - 5.
- Forgetting parentheses when a sum or difference is multiplied.
Tips
- Translate right to left for "less than" and "more than" phrases.