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This module is from Elementary Algebra by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. In this chapter, the emphasis is on the mechanics of equation solving, which clearly explains how to isolate a variable. The goal is to help the student feel more comfortable with solving applied problems. Ample opportunity is provided for the student to practice translating words to symbols, which is an important part of the "Five-Step Method" of solving applied problems (discussed in modules (<link document="m21980"/>) and (<link document="m21979"/>)). Objectives of this module: be able to translate from verbal to mathematical expressions.

Overview

  • Translating from Verbal to Mathematical Expressions

Translating from verbal to mathematical expressions

To solve a problem using algebra, we must first express the problem algebraically. To express a problem algebraically, we must scrutinize the wording of the problem to determine the variables and constants that are present and the relationships among them. Then we must translate the verbal phrases and statements to algebraic expressions and equations.

To help us translate verbal expressions to mathematics, we can use the following table as a mathematics dictionary.

Mathematics dictionary
Word or Phrase Mathematical Operation
Sum, sum of, added to, increased by, more than, plus, and +
Difference, minus, subtracted from, decreased by, less, less than
Product, the product of, of, muitiplied by, times
Quotient, divided by, ratio ÷
Equals, is equal to, is, the result is, becomes =
A number, an unknown quantity, an unknown, a quantity x (or any symbol)

Sample set a

Translate the following phrases or sentences into mathematical expressions or equations.

six 6 more than + a number x 6 + x .

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Fifteen 15 minus - a number x 15 - x .

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A quantity y less - eight 8 y - 8 .

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Twice 2 a number x is = ten . 10 2 x = 10

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One half 1 2 of a number z is = twenty . 20 1 2 z = 20

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Three 3 times a number y is = five 5 more than + twice 2 the same number . y 3 y = 5 + 2 y

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Practice set a

Translate the following phrases or sentences into mathematical expressions or equations.

Eleven more than a number.

11 + x

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Nine minus a number.

9 x

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A quantity less twenty.

x 20

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Four times a number is thirty two.

4 x = 32

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One third of a number is six.

x 3 = 6

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Ten times a number is eight more than five times the same number.

10 x = 8 + 5 x

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Sometimes the structure of the sentence indicates the use of grouping symbols.

Sample set b

Translate the following phrases or sentences into mathematical expressions or equations.

A number divided by five, (  x  ÷ 5 ) minus ten, 10 is = fifteen . 15 x 5 10 = 15

Commas set off terms.

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Eight 8 divided by ÷ five more than a number ( 5 + x ) is = ten 10 The wording indicates this is to be considered as a single quantity.

8 5 + x = 10

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A number x multiplied by ten more than itself ( 10 + x ) is = twenty . 20 x ( 10 + x ) = 20

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A number plus one is divided by three times the number minus twelve and the result is four.
( x + 1 ) ÷ ( 3 x 12 ) = 4 x + 1 3 x 12 = 4
Notice that since the phrase "three times the number minus twelve" does not contain a comma, we get the expression 3 x 12 . If the phrase had appeared as "three times the number, minus twelve," the result would have been
x + 1 3 x 12 = 4

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Questions & Answers

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Astronomy (from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία (astronomía) 'science that studies the laws of the stars') is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution.
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but thats just a theory
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these are Rocky substances between mars and jupiter
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Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases , rock and dust that orbit the sun. They are mostly found between the orbits of Venus and Mercury.
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why the moon is always appear in an elliptical shape
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Because when astroid hit the Earth then a piece of elliptical shape of the earth was separated which is now called moon.
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Did you mean eye sight or sea level
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there many theory to born universe but what is the reality of big bang theory to born universe
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there are many theories regarding this it's on you believe any theory that you think is true ex. eternal inflation theory, oscillation model theory, multiple universe theory the big bang theory etc.
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I think it couldn't possible on earth
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is that so. the question was in the end of this chapter
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in theory, you could see them all from the equator (though over the course of a year, not at pne time). stars are measured in "declination", which is how far N or S of the equator (90* to -90*). Polaris is the North star, and is ALMOST 90* (+89*). So it would just barely creep over the horizon.
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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