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Translating Basic Math Phrases into Algebraic Expressions

There is no single strategy for translating math phrases into algebraic expressions. As long as you
can remember the basics, you should be able to tackle the more challenging ones. Just make sure
that you can justify how you come up with your own algebraic expression, and more importantly
that it makes sense to you. Always ask for help from your teachers, as needed or collaborate
with your classmates so that you can verify your answers.

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To build your skills on writing algebraic expressions, we will go over different ways how each
operation may show up as a word or phrase in the problem. The four arithmetic operations
involved are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Key Words for Addition

Key Words for Subtraction

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Key Words for Multiplication

Key Words for Division

It is time now time to go over some examples to practice writing algebraic expressions. Consider
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the following problems as “basic examples” because the algebraic expressions will only involve a
single operation. For more advanced or slightly complicated expressions, we have a separate
lesson for that which is writing multi-part algebraic expressions.

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Examples of How to Translate Basic Math Phrases into Algebraic Expressions

We will go over eight (8) examples in this lesson to accommodate two (2) two examples for each
operation.

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Example 1: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” the sum of a number and four”.

Solution: The word “sum” immediately gives us the hint that we are going to add here. Notice that
we want to add two quantities: one unknown number and the number 4. Since we don’t know
what the value of the number, we can use a variable to represent it. You may use any letters of
the alphabet. In this case, let’s agree to use y for the variable.

When we add the variable y and 4, we have y + 4. It is also okay to write your answer as 4 + y
because addition is commutative – that is, switching the order of addition doesn’t change its
sum.

Example 2: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” 10 increased by a number”.
Solution: The key words “increased by” implies addition. This means that an unknown number has
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been added to 10. Using the letter k as the variable, we can translate the statement above as 10 +
k. Since addition is commutative,  we can rewrite it as k + 10. Either of the two above is a correct
answer.

Example 3: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” the difference of 1 and a number”.

Solution: The word “difference” suggests that we are going to subtract. In addition, when you
encounter this math word (difference) make sure to pay attention to the order. The number 1
comes first then an unknown number comes in second. That means the number 1 is the minuend
and the unknown number is the subtrahend. If we decide to the use the letter x as our variable, the
answer becomes 1 − x.

Example 4: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” a number less than 8″.

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Solution: Be very careful when dealing with the keywords “less than”. The first quantity that
comes before the “less than” keywords which is ” a number” is the subtrahend. While the quantity
that comes after it becomes the minuend.

In other words, we are going to subtract the unknown number from the number 8. If we choose
our variable to be the letter a, we get 8 − a.

Example 5: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” the product of 5 and a number”.

Solution: To find the product of two quantities or values, it means that we will multiply them
together. Selecting the letter m as our variable, the algebraic expression for this math phrase is
simply 5m. It means 5 times the unknown number m.

Example 6: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” twice a number”.
Solution: The word “twice” means we are going to double something. In this case, we want to
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double an unknown value or quantity. Let the letter d be the unknown number, when we double it
we get the algebraic expression 2d.

Example 7: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” the quotient of a number and 7″.

Solution: The keyword “quotient” means that we are performing the operation of division. We will
divide an unknown number by 7. Choosing the letter w as our variable, the math phrase above can
be expressed as the algebraic expression below.

Example 8: Write an algebraic expression for the math phrase ” the ratio of 10 and a number”.

Solution: Similarly, the word “ratio” means division. The order here is very important. The first
quantity is the number 10 and the second quantity is the unknown number. That means 10 is
divided by an unknown number. Let c be the unknown number, the algebraic expression for the
math phrase above can be written as

You might also be interested in:

Algebraic Expressions
Translating Multi-Part Math Phrases into Algebraic Expressions

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