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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

Ayele, K., 2003. Introductory Economics, 3rd ed., Addis Ababa.
Widad Reply
can you send the book attached ?
Ariel
?
Ariel
What is economics
Widad Reply
the study of how humans make choices under conditions of scarcity
AI-Robot
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn Reply
U(x,y) = (x×y)1/2 find mu of x for y
Desalegn
what is ecnomics
Jan Reply
this is the study of how the society manages it's scarce resources
Belonwu
what is macroeconomic
John Reply
macroeconomic is the branch of economics which studies actions, scale, activities and behaviour of the aggregate economy as a whole.
husaini
etc
husaini
difference between firm and industry
husaini Reply
what's the difference between a firm and an industry
Abdul
firm is the unit which transform inputs to output where as industry contain combination of firms with similar production 😅😅
Abdulraufu
Suppose the demand function that a firm faces shifted from Qd  120 3P to Qd  90  3P and the supply function has shifted from QS  20  2P to QS 10  2P . a) Find the effect of this change on price and quantity. b) Which of the changes in demand and supply is higher?
Toofiq Reply
explain standard reason why economic is a science
innocent Reply
factors influencing supply
Petrus Reply
what is economic.
Milan Reply
scares means__________________ends resources. unlimited
Jan
economics is a science that studies human behaviour as a relationship b/w ends and scares means which have alternative uses
Jan
calculate the profit maximizing for demand and supply
Zarshad Reply
Why qualify 28 supplies
Milan
what are explicit costs
Nomsa Reply
out-of-pocket costs for a firm, for example, payments for wages and salaries, rent, or materials
AI-Robot
concepts of supply in microeconomics
David Reply
economic overview notes
Amahle Reply
identify a demand and a supply curve
Salome Reply
i don't know
Parul
there's a difference
Aryan
Demand curve shows that how supply and others conditions affect on demand of a particular thing and what percent demand increase whith increase of supply of goods
Israr
Hi Sir please how do u calculate Cross elastic demand and income elastic demand?
Abari
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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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