Variables and Expressions

Vocabulary

Variable – A symbol, usually a letter of the alphabet, such as

the letter n, that is used to represent a number.
Variable expression (A.K.A. - Algebraic Expression) – An

expression, such as n – 5, that consists of one or more numbers

and variables along with one or more arithmetic operations.
(Note: No equal sign)
 Evaluate a Variable Expression – write the expression,

substitute a number for each variable, and simplify the result.

How Do You Describe a
Variable Expression?
Variable Meaning Operation
Expression
5x, 5  x, (5) (x) 5 times x Multiplication
x
5
,x 5 x divided by 5 Division
x 5 x plus 5 Addition
x 5 x minus 5 Subtraction
State the meaning of the
variable expression and name
the operation

1. 8 x A

2. 2w A

7 A
3.
n Please
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4. 6p slide
 Answer:
State the meaning of the variable expression
and name the operation
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each answer
1. 8 minus x; Subtraction
2. 2 times w; Multiplication
3. 7 divided by n; Division
4. 6 plus p; Addition
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**Verbal
**Verbal
expressions
expressionsare are
usually more
usually more
detailed
detailedthanthan
stating
statingthethe
meaning.
meaning.VerbalVerbal
expressions
expressionsare are
used to translate
used to translate
words
wordsor or Examples:
language
languageinto into
**Verbal expression
variable
variable oror Algebraic Expressions
algebraic
algebraic
equations.
equations.They
consist
They
1.
a
7 a divided by b; minus 7
consistofofkey key (note: fractions are division problems)
words
words thathelp
that help
b
identify the type
identify the type
ofofequation
equationthat that 2. r  4k r times the product of 4 and k
will need to
will need to be be (note: multiplication is implied when two or more
simplified.
simplified.These
These letters xy or numbers 4k are together and there
key words are is no operation symbol).
key words are
usually
usually 3. 5 xy  3 z
introduced
introducedwhen when The product of 5xy divided by 3z
writing variable
writing variable
expressions
expressionsand and
writing equations
writing equations
for 4. ( 4  n)  m The sum of 4 and n; divided by m
forproblem
problem
solving.
solving.

Evaluate a Variable Expression – write
the expression, substitute a number for
each variable, and simplify the result.
 Value of a Variable – A number that

may be substituted or assigned to a

particular variable; such as n = 3; or
x = 5.
Example 1: Evaluate each expression when n = 4

a. n3 Substitute 4 for n. Simplify

Simplify
Simplify(means
(meanstotosolve
solvethe
theproblem
problemor
orperform
performas
as
Solution:
Solution:
n3 43 many of the indicated operations as possible.)
many of the indicated operations as possible.)

7

b. n3 Substitute 4 for n. Simplify

Solution:
Solution: n3  43
1
 Example 2: Evaluate each expression when x = 8
a. 5 x Substitute 7 for x. Simplify
Solution:
Solution: 5 x  5(8) Simplify
Simplify(means
many
(meanstotosolve
solvethe
theproblem
problemor
orperform
performas
as
manyofofthe
theindicated
indicatedoperations
operationsas
aspossible.)
possible.)
 40 Using
Note: Usingparenthesis
parenthesisisisthe
thepreferred
preferredmethod
methodtoto
Note:No
Nooperation
operationsign
sign show
showmultiplication.
multiplication.Additional
Additionalways
waystotoshow
show
between a variable and
between a variable and multiplication are:
multiplication are:
number–
number–indicates
indicates
multiplication
(5)(8);5  8; 5  8; 5  8
multiplicationproblem.
problem.
x 8
b. x4 Substitute 7 for x. Simplify 4

4
 2;
Solution:
Solution: x4  84 Recall
Recallthat
thatdivision
fractions –
divisionproblems
this
problemsare
problem could
arealso
be
also
because
fractions – this problem could be
2 written
writtenas:
as: x4 
x
4
 Example 3: Evaluate each expression when x = 4, y = 6,
z = 24.

a. 5 xy Substitute 4 for x; 6 for y. simplify

Recall:
Recall:No
No
operation solution
solution
operationsign
sign
between
between
variable(s)
5 xy  (5)(4)(6)
variable(s)and
andaa Recall
Recallthat:
number–
number–
indicates
 (20)(6) that:
z
indicates zy
 120
multiplication
multiplication
problem.
y
problem.
Xy
Xymeans
means4(6);
4(6); b. zy so,
5xy
5xymeans
means5(4)
5(4) Solution:
Solution: z  y  24  6 24  6 
24
4
(6)
4
(6)
6
Evaluate each expression when a = 6, b = 12, and c = 3

1. 4ac A
2. a c A

3. abc A

4. ba A

5. bc A

6. c b A
 Click
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eachanswer
answer

Evaluate each expression when a = 6, b = 12, and c = 3

Notice
Noticethat
thatall
allthe
thenumbers
numbersandandletters
lettersare
are
together and that there are no operation
together and that there are no operation
1. 4ac symbols
symbolswhich
whichindicates
multiplication
indicatesthat
multiplicationproblem.
problem.
thatthis
thisisisaa

4ac  (4)(6)(3) Substitute

Substitutethe
into
thevalue
valuefor
foraa==66and
andcc==33
intothe
theproblem
problemand
andmultiply
multiply

 (24)(3) multiply
multiply
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 72
“You try it” slide
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Simplified
Simplified
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Evaluate each expression when a = 6, b = 12, and c = 3

2. a c Division
DivisionProblem
Problem

a c  63 Substitute
Substitutethe
into
intothe
thevalue
theproblem
valuefor
problemand
foraa==66and
anddivide
divide
andcc==33

Another
2 Simplified
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Anotherwaywaytoto
solve division
solve division
problems
problemsisisto
write
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c 3
simplify.
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Evaluate each expression when a = 6, b = 12, and c = 3

3. abc Addition
Additionproblem
problem

a  b  c  6  12  3 Substitute
Substitutethe
and
thevalue
andcc==33into
valuefor
intothe
foraa==6,6,b=12,
theproblem,
problem, then
b=12,
thenadd
add

 18  3 Add
Add

 21 Simplified
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Evaluate each expression when a = 6, b = 12, and c = 3

4. ba multiplication
multiplicationproblem
problem

ba  (12)(6) Substitute
Substitutethe
into
thevalue
valuefor
forb=12
b=12and
andaa==66
intothe
theproblem,
problem, then
thenmultiply
multiply

 72 Simplified
Simplified

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returntoto
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 Click
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inthe
the
middle
middle ofthe
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window
window toview
to view
each
eachanswer
answer

Evaluate each expression when a = 6, b = 12, and c = 3

5. bc Subtraction
Subtractionproblem
problem

b  c  12  3 Substitute
Substitutethe
into
intothe
thevalue
valuefor
theproblem,
forb=12
problem, then
b=12and
andaa==33
thenSubtract
Subtract

9 Simplified
Simplified

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returntoto
“You try it” slide
“You try it” slide
 Click
Clickin
inthe
the
middle
middle ofthe
of the
window
window toview
to view
each answer
each answer

Evaluate each expression when a = 6, b = 12, and c = 3

6. c b Division
Divisionproblem
problem

c  b  3  12 Substitute
Substitutethe
thevalue
valuefor
forc=3
c=3and
andbb==12
12into
into
Divide the
theproblem,
problem, then
thenDivide
Divideboth Divide
both
numerator
numeratorand 3
denominator
and
denominatorby by  Note:
Note:ItItisisbetter
problem
problemas
betterto
torewrite
rewritethis
asaafraction.
fraction.
thisdivision
division
the GCF
reduce
=
reducethis
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this
to
the GCF = (3) to 12 This
Thisfraction
fractioncan
cannow
nowbe
bereduced
reducedto
toits
its
fraction. simplest form.
simplest form.
fraction.

3 3 1 Simplified
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12  3 4 ItItisisOK
asasan
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answer.
fraction