LESSON 2

MATHEMATICAL LANGUAGE
AND SYMBOLS

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 2

 Translating Word Phrases to Expressions

 Translating Word Sentences to Equations

 Translate Words into Math

Warm Up
Evaluate each algebraic expression for the
given value of the variables.

1. 7x + 4 for x = 6 46
2. 8y – 22 for y = 9 50
3. 12x + 8 for x = 7 and y = 4 86
y
4. y + 3z for y = 5 and z = 6 23

Course 2
Translating Phrases

Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division

sum minus product divided by
plus subtracted from twice quotient
more than difference of times ratio
added to less than multiplied by divided into
increased by decreased by of
less

Order is Order is
important!! important!!
Translating Phrases

Operation Variable Word Phrases

Expression
 a number plus three
 Three added to a
number
 The sum of some
Addition x+3 number and three
 Three more than
some number
 a number increased
by three
Translating Phrases

Operation Variable Word Phrases

Expression
A number minus six
Six subtracted from some
number
The difference of a number
and six
Subtraction y–6 Six less than some number
a number decreased by six
a number less six
Translating Phrases

Operation Variable Expression Word Phrases

Twice a number
Two times a number
Multiplication 2a The product of two and a
number
A number multiplied by two
c squared
Exponents c2 The square of c
c to the second power
k cubed
k3 k to the third power
The cube of k
Roots x The square root of x
Translating Phrases

Operation Variable Expression Word Phrases

A number divided by five
x The quotient of some number and
five
Division 5 The ratio of some number and five
Five divided a number
Translating Phrases
The key words sum, difference, product, and quotient
indicate the answer for their respective operations.

sum of x and 3 difference of x and 3

x+3 x–3

product of x and 3 quotient of x and 3

x  3 or 3x x
x  3 or
3
Translating Phrases Use x for the variable if not specified.

The product of a number and four

4x
The sum of b cubed and seven
b3  7

Seven added to the quotient of x and y

x x
7
y y
Translating Phrases Use x for the variable if not specified.

A number subtracted from 8

8x

Nine divided into a number

x
9

Five more than two times a number

2x
5  2 x or 2 x  5
Translating Phrases Use x for the variable if not specified.

ab
Seven times the sum of a and b
7a  b 

5x
The product of five and a number
minus the sum of the number and two
x2

5x  x  2 5 x  x  2 
Translating Phrases Use x for the variable if not specified.

ab
The sum of a and b divided by the
difference of a and b
ab ab
ab
 Translate the phrase to an algebraic expression.

Twelve less than three times a number

a) 3n + 12

b) 12 – 3n

c) 3n – 12

d) 3n  12

1.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 15

 Translate the phrase to an algebraic expression.
Twelve less than three times a number

a) 3n + 12

b) 12 – 3n

c) 3n – 12

d) 3n  12

1.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 16

 Translate the phrase to an algebraic expression.
The difference of a and b decreased by the sum
of w and z

a) (a – b) – (w + z)

b) a – b – (w + z)

c) ab – (w + z)

d) (b – a) – (w + z)

1.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 17

 Translate the phrase to an algebraic expression.
The difference of a and b decreased by the sum
of w and z

a) (a – b) – (w + z)

b) a – b – (w + z)

c) ab – (w + z)

d) (b – a) – (w + z)

1.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 18

Translating Word Sentences

Operation Expression Word Phrases

is
is equal to
is the same as
Equals = produces
yields
results in
Translate and Solve

=
Fifteen more than a number is negative seven.
15  x 7

15  x  7
 15  15
x  22
Translate and Solve

13  4 x 4x
Thirteen more than the product of four and a number
yields 9.
=
13  4 x  9
 13  13
4 x  4
4 4
x  1
Translate and Solve

3x  5 x5
Three times the difference of a number and five
is equal to seven times the number, minus twelve.
= 7x 7 x  12
3x  5  7 x  12
3x  15  7 x  12
 7x  7x
 4 x  15  12
 15  15
 4x  3
4 4
3
x
4
 Translate: Thirty-two less than three times
a number is fifteen.

a) 32 – 3x = 15

b) 3x – 32 = 15

c) 32 + 3x = 15

d) 3x  32 = 15

2.5
 Translate: Thirty-two less than three times
a number is fifteen.

a) 32 – 3x = 15

b) 3x – 32 = 15

c) 32 + 3x = 15

d) 3x  32 = 15

2.5
 Translate: The quotient of four less than a
number and five is the same as the number
divided by eight.

a) 4  n  8n
5
b) 5(n  4)  8n
5 8
c) 
n4 n
d) n  4  n
5 8

2.5
 Translate: The quotient of four less than a
number and five is the same as the number
divided by eight.

a) 4  n  8n
5
b) 5(n  4)  8n
5 8
c) 
n4 n
d) n  4  n
5 8

2.5
 QUIZ 1

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 27

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 28