NOTES

Topic 1: Writing & Solving Equations

Writing Equations (Section 2.1)

VOCABULARY

ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSION VARIABLE

EVALUATE SOLUTION OF AN EQUATION
CONSTANT EQUATION

1) __________________________: a value that does not change

2) ____________________________: a letter or symbol used to represent a value that can change

3) ________________: may contain variables, constants, and operations

4) ____________________________: to find a value of an algebraic expression

5) ____________________________: an open sentence that contains the symbol =

6) ____________________________: a number that when substituted for the variable in an equation results in a
true statement

EVALUATING EXPRESSIONS

Steps:
1. Substitute a number for each variable
2. Simplify the expression using the order of operations

Evaluate each expression if a=2, b=6 , c=12 , d=−4 .

7) a+ b 8) 2 d−a

abc
9) ab−c 10)
−3 d
TRANSLATING VERBAL EXPRESSIONS
OPERATION KEY WORDS EXAMPLE TRANSLATION
Plus A number plus three
More than Ten more than a number
The sum of The sum of a number and five
Addition (+)
The total of The total of six and some number
Increased by A number increased by two
Added to Eleven added to a number
Minus A number minus seven
Less than Four less than a number
The difference of The difference of a number and three
Subtraction (−¿ )
Less Nine less a number
Decreased by A number decreased by twelve
Subtracted from Six subtracted from a number
Times Eight times a number
The product of The product of fourteen and a number

Multiplication (×) Twice; double Twice a number; double a number

Multiplied by A number multiplied by negative six

Of Three fourths of a number

The quotient of The quotient of a number and seven

Division (÷ ) Divided by Ten divided by a number

The ratio of The ratio of a number to fifteen

The square of; The square of a number;
squared a number squared
Powers ( x n)
The cube of; The cube of a number;
cubed a number cubed
Equals Seven less than a number equals ten
Is Three times a number is negative six
Equals (=)
Is the same as Eight is the same as twice a number
Amounts to Nine less a number amounts to twenty
ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS TO VERBAL EXPRESSIONS
Translate the following algebraic expressions into three different verbal translations.

OPERATIONS EXPRESSION TRANSLATION

1.
2.
Addition 5+ x
3.
4.

1.
2.
Subtraction b−4
3.
4.

1.
2.
Multiplication 3c
3.

1.
d 2.
Division
2 3.

1.
2.
Equals 3 a−7=10
3.

11) A rectangle has a length, l , of 5 inches and a width, w , of 12 inches.

a) Write an expression for the perimeter of the rectangle. ________________________

b) Find the perimeter of the rectangle. ________________________

c) Write an expression for the area of the rectangle. ________________________

d) Find the area of the rectangle. ________________________

12) Write the algebraic expression for each verbal expression. Then evaluate the algebraic expression for
the given value of x.
 VERBAL ALGEBRAIC x=40 x=60
x increased by 6
twice a number
x separated into 5 groups
20 less than x

13) The starting price of a San Antonio Spurs jersey is $60. If you want to add a name to the back of the
jersey, the price increases by $2.50 per letter, x .

a) Write an expression to represent the total cost of a San Antonio Spurs jersey. ________________________

b) What does the $60 represent in your expression?

c) What does x represent in the expression?

d) What is the total cost of a jersey with the letters Parker printed on the back? ________________________

Write the algebraic expression.

14) The perimeter of an equilateral triangle with side, s. ________________________

15) Snoopy withdraws $50 from his savings account, a . ________________________

16) A computer can print 8 pages per minute, m. ________________________

17) A set of calculators, c , is separated into 6 groups. ________________________

18) The lengths of two adjacent sides of a rectangle are (2 x+3) and (x−7), and its perimeter is 40 . Which
answer choice shows an equation that can be used to find the perimeter of the rectangle?

A 2 x+3=x−7
B ( 2 x+3 )+ ( x −7 )=40
C 2( x +3−7)=40
D 2 ( 2 x +3 ) +2 ( x−7 ) =40

19) This equation describes a number n :

n+ ( n+1 )=7

Which answer choice shows a verbal statement of the equation and the solution to the equation?
A The sum of a number and one more than the number is 7; n=3.
B The sum of two numbers is 7; n=3.
C The sum of a number and 7 is equal to one more than the number; n=3.
D The sum of a number and 7 is one more than the number; n=4 .

20) A package contains 8 hot dog buns. A shopper wants to purchase enough packages to have a total of
120 hot dog buns. Which answer choice shows an equation for the situation and the solution to that
equation?

A 8 n=120 ; n=15
B 8 ×120=n ; n=960
C 8+ n=120 ; n=112
8 1
D =120 ; n=
n 15

21) In 2013, the United States Postal Service charged $0.46 to mail a letter weighing up to 1 ounce and
$0.20 for each additional ounce. Which equation would determine the cost, in dollars, C , of mailing a
letter weighing z ounces, where z is an integer greater than 1?

A C=0.46 z +0.20
B C=0.20 z +0.46
C C=0.46( z−1)+0.20
D C=0.20( z −1)+0.46