Name: __________________________________ Date:

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Grade & Section: _________________________
Learning Activity Sheet
Translation of Verbal Phrases to Mathematical Phrases and Vice Versa

Here are more key words that would indicate when to

use the four fundamental operations.
Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division
+¿ −¿ × ÷
plus minus times divided by
increased by decreased by multiplied by ratio of
added to subtracted from the product of the quotient of
the sum of the difference of twice
more than less than thrice
total diminished by

Study the following examples in translating English phrase to Mathematical phrase:

English phrase Mathematical phrase

Ten less a number n 10 −¿ n

Ten less a number

n−10

Ten less than a number n second term less first term

( than is a switch word and in cases
like this, the second term comes the
first term second term first and first term comes the last.)

Twenty more than a number x

x+20

second term more first term

first term second term
 n÷3

A number n divided by three

a number divided by three

n
3

Remember:
Addition and Multiplication are commutative. Commutative means
that interchanging the place of the addends does not affect the sum and
interchanging the factors does not affect the product.

7+ x

Seven plus a number

Seven plus a number
It can be written also as,
x + 7

5(n) or 5●n 5n

Five product of number

Note: In Algebra, the letter “ × may
not be used in multiplication. It will
The product of five and a number n
lead to confusion because “ x” is
also used as a variable.
Instead we can use a dot (●)
or
a parenthesis ( ) such as 5(n).

What if we have the phrase,

“The difference of three and twice a number plus one”
Know that “difference” represents subtraction, “twice” means multiplied by
 2 and a number is a variable. The first term is three and the second term is
twice a number plus one; hence, the second term is a group, enclosed into
parenthesis to separate independent grouping.

3−(2 p+1)

The difference of three and three difference twice a number plus

twice a number plus one” one
or
3−(2 p+1)

The quotient of thrice a number 3n÷4

and four
Note: Quotient represents thrice a number divided by four
division.
Thrice means multiplied by 3.

Activity 1: Translate Me!

Let’s Find Out: How to translate English phrases into Mathematical phrases?
Let’s Use These Materials: Mathematics notebook and ballpen.

Let’s Do It This Way : Translate each English phrases into Mathematical

phrases. Write your answer on your Mathematics

notebook.
1. The sum of 4 and a number
2. Six less than a number
3. The product of m and a number
4. The quotient of x and 7
5. The sum of twice a number n and six
6. The product of thrice a number
7. Eight more than a number
8. Nine increased by a number cubed.
9. The difference of three times a number and five
10. Four times a number divided by three
11. Eight times a number less three
12. Nine decreased by a number
13. Seven more than Three times a number
14. Five increased by a number
15. Four less than twice a number