TRANSLATING

ENGLISH TO MATH

Math Center Workshop Series

By Janice Levasseur
• One of the major skills required in
mathematics is the ability to translate a
verbal statement into a mathematical
(variable) expression or equation.
• This ability requires recognizing the verbal
phrases that translate into mathematical
operations.
 Addition
• Added to
• (the sum of)
• (the total of)
• Increased by
• Plus
• More than
Note: The sum is the answer to an addition
problem. “The sum of x and y”  (x + y)
 Subtraction
• Subtracted from
• (the difference between)
• Less
• Decreased by
• Minus
• Less than
Note: The difference is the answer to a subtraction.
“The difference between x and y”  (x – y)
 Multiplication
• Times
• The product of
• Multiplied by
• Of
• Twice

Note: The product is the answer to a multiplication

problem. “The product of x and y”  (x)(y)
 Division
• Divided by
• The quotient of
• The ratio of

Note: The quotient is the answer to a division

problem. “The quotient of x and y”  x .

y
 Power
• The square of exponent 2
• The cube of exponent 3

Equals
• Equals
• Is/Are/Was/Were
• Amounts to

Note: These lists are not complete.

 Translate the following verbal
expressions into variable expressions:
Ex: y added to sixteen

What is the operation? Addition

What is being added? y and 16

Write the expression: y + 16

Ex: the sum of b and eight

What is the operation? Addition

What is being added? b and 8

Write the expression: (b + 8)
Ex: the total of four and m

What is the operation? Addition

What is being added? 4 and m

Write the expression: (4 + m)
Ex: w increased by fifty-five
What is the operation? Addition
What is being added? w and 55
Write the expression: w + 55
Ex: g plus twenty
What is the operation? Addition
What is being added? g and 20
Write the expression: g + 20
Ex: nineteen more than K
What is the operation? Addition
What is being added? 19 and K
Write the expression: K + 19

Can also be written as: 19 + K

Ex: n subtracted from two
What is the operation? Subtraction
What is being subtracted? n and 2
Write the expression (careful!): 2–n

Subtraction does not possess

the commutative property so
order is important. There is a
difference between what goes
in front of the subtraction sign
(the minuend) and what goes
after (the subtrahend).
 Ex: the difference of q and three

What is the operation? Subtraction

What is being subtracted? q and 3

Write the expression (careful!): (q – 3)
Ex: r less twelve
What is the operation? Subtraction
What is being subtracted? r and 12
Write the expression (careful!): r – 12
Ex: seventeen decreased by m
What is the operation? Subtraction
What is being subtracted? 17 and m
Write the expression (careful!): 17 – m
Ex: w minus 3
What is the operation? Subtraction
What is being subtracted? w and 3
Write the expression (careful!): w–3
Ex: nineteen less than d
What is the operation? Subtraction
What is being subtracted? 19 and d
Write the expression (careful!): d – 19

Subtraction does not possess

the commutative property so
order is important. There is a
difference between what goes
in front of the subtraction sign
(the minuend) and what goes
after (the subtrahend).
Ex: nine times c
What is the operation? Multiplication
What is being multiplied? 9 and c
Write the expression: 9c
 Ex: the product of negative six and b

What is the operation? Multiplication

What is being multiplied? -6 and b

Write the expression: -6b
Ex: five multiplied by a number
What is the operation? Multiplication
What is being multiplied? 5 and n
Write the expression: 5n
Ex: fifteen percent of the selling price

What is the operation? Multiplication

What is being multiplied? 15% and p
Write the expression: .15p
Ex: twice a number
What is the operation? Multiplication
What is being multiplied? 2 and n
Write the expression: 2n
Ex: the square of a number
What is the operation? Multiplication
What is being multiplied? n and n
Write the expression: n2
Ex: the cube of a number
What is the operation? Multiplication
What is being multiplied? n and n and n
Write the expression: n3
Ex: four divided by y
What is the operation? Division
What is being divided? 4 and y
Write the expression (careful!): 4
y
Ex: the quotient of the opposite of n and nine

What is the operation? Division

What is being divided? -n and 9

Write the expression (careful!): -n
9
Ex: the ratio of eleven and p

What is the operation? Division

What is being divided? 11 and p

Write the expression (careful!): 11

p
Division does not possess the
commutative property so order is
important. There is a difference
between what goes in front of the
division sign/on top (the dividend)
and what goes after the division
sign /on the bottom (the divisor).
Ex: nine increased by the quotient of t and
five
What operation(s)? Addition and Division

Take it word for word to translate:

nine increased by the quotient of t and five

9 + t
 
5 
Ex: the product of a and the sum of a and
thirteen
What operation(s)? Multiplication and Addition

Take it word for word to translate:

The product of a and the sum of a and thirteen

( a )( a + 13 )
Ex: the quotient of nine less than x and
twice x
What operation(s)? Division & Subtraction &
Multiplication

Take it word for word to translate:

the quotient of 9 less than x and twice x
 x - 9 
 
 2 x

 Equals
• Equals
• Is/Are/Was/Were
• Amounts to
• The results is
• To obtain

Note: These lists are not complete.