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This module is from Elementary Algebra by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. In this chapter, the emphasis is on the mechanics of equation solving, which clearly explains how to isolate a variable. The goal is to help the student feel more comfortable with solving applied problems. Ample opportunity is provided for the student to practice translating words to symbols, which is an important part of the "Five-Step Method" of solving applied problems (discussed in modules (<link document="m21980"/>) and (<link document="m21979"/>)). Objectives of this module: be able to translate from verbal to mathematical expressions.

Overview

  • Translating from Verbal to Mathematical Expressions

Translating from verbal to mathematical expressions

To solve a problem using algebra, we must first express the problem algebraically. To express a problem algebraically, we must scrutinize the wording of the problem to determine the variables and constants that are present and the relationships among them. Then we must translate the verbal phrases and statements to algebraic expressions and equations.

To help us translate verbal expressions to mathematics, we can use the following table as a mathematics dictionary.

Mathematics dictionary
Word or Phrase Mathematical Operation
Sum, sum of, added to, increased by, more than, plus, and +
Difference, minus, subtracted from, decreased by, less, less than
Product, the product of, of, muitiplied by, times
Quotient, divided by, ratio ÷
Equals, is equal to, is, the result is, becomes =
A number, an unknown quantity, an unknown, a quantity x (or any symbol)

Sample set a

Translate the following phrases or sentences into mathematical expressions or equations.

six 6 more than + a number x 6 + x .

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Fifteen 15 minus - a number x 15 - x .

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A quantity y less - eight 8 y - 8 .

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Twice 2 a number x is = ten . 10 2 x = 10

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One half 1 2 of a number z is = twenty . 20 1 2 z = 20

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Three 3 times a number y is = five 5 more than + twice 2 the same number . y 3 y = 5 + 2 y

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Practice set a

Translate the following phrases or sentences into mathematical expressions or equations.

Eleven more than a number.

11 + x

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Nine minus a number.

9 x

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A quantity less twenty.

x 20

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Four times a number is thirty two.

4 x = 32

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One third of a number is six.

x 3 = 6

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Ten times a number is eight more than five times the same number.

10 x = 8 + 5 x

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Sometimes the structure of the sentence indicates the use of grouping symbols.

Sample set b

Translate the following phrases or sentences into mathematical expressions or equations.

A number divided by five, (  x  ÷ 5 ) minus ten, 10 is = fifteen . 15 x 5 10 = 15

Commas set off terms.

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Eight 8 divided by ÷ five more than a number ( 5 + x ) is = ten 10 The wording indicates this is to be considered as a single quantity.

8 5 + x = 10

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A number x multiplied by ten more than itself ( 10 + x ) is = twenty . 20 x ( 10 + x ) = 20

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A number plus one is divided by three times the number minus twelve and the result is four.
( x + 1 ) ÷ ( 3 x 12 ) = 4 x + 1 3 x 12 = 4
Notice that since the phrase "three times the number minus twelve" does not contain a comma, we get the expression 3 x 12 . If the phrase had appeared as "three times the number, minus twelve," the result would have been
x + 1 3 x 12 = 4

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Questions & Answers

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In economics, a perfect market refers to a theoretical construct where all participants have perfect information, goods are homogenous, there are no barriers to entry or exit, and prices are determined solely by supply and demand. It's an idealized model used for analysis,
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When MP₁ becomes negative, TP start to decline. Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of lab
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Extuples Suppose that the short-run production function of certain cut-flower firm is given by: Q=4KL-0.6K2 - 0.112 • Where is quantity of cut flower produced, I is labour input and K is fixed capital input (K-5). Determine the average product of labour (APL) and marginal product of labour (MPL)
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What is different between quantity demand and demand?
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Quantity demanded refers to the specific amount of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at a give price and within a specific time period. Demand, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses the entire relationship between price and quantity demanded
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Economic growth as an increase in the production and consumption of goods and services within an economy.but Economic development as a broader concept that encompasses not only economic growth but also social & human well being.
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In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities, where neither p
Cornelius
In economics, the contract curve refers to the set of points in an Edgeworth box diagram where both parties involved in a trade cannot be made better off without making one of them worse off. It represents the Pareto efficient allocations of goods between two individuals or entities,
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Suppose a consumer consuming two commodities X and Y has The following utility function u=X0.4 Y0.6. If the price of the X and Y are 2 and 3 respectively and income Constraint is birr 50. A,Calculate quantities of x and y which maximize utility. B,Calculate value of Lagrange multiplier. C,Calculate quantities of X and Y consumed with a given price. D,alculate optimum level of output .
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the market for lemon has 10 potential consumers, each having an individual demand curve p=101-10Qi, where p is price in dollar's per cup and Qi is the number of cups demanded per week by the i th consumer.Find the market demand curve using algebra. Draw an individual demand curve and the market dema
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suppose the production function is given by ( L, K)=L¼K¾.assuming capital is fixed find APL and MPL. consider the following short run production function:Q=6L²-0.4L³ a) find the value of L that maximizes output b)find the value of L that maximizes marginal product
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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