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Translating Math to English Part 2

The document outlines the skill of translating verbal statements into mathematical expressions or equations, detailing the key phrases associated with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and powers. It provides examples of how to convert specific verbal expressions into variable expressions, emphasizing the importance of order in subtraction and division. Additionally, it notes that the lists of phrases for each operation are not exhaustive.

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3 views

Translating Math to English Part 2

The document outlines the skill of translating verbal statements into mathematical expressions or equations, detailing the key phrases associated with addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and powers. It provides examples of how to convert specific verbal expressions into variable expressions, emphasizing the importance of order in subtraction and division. Additionally, it notes that the lists of phrases for each operation are not exhaustive.

Uploaded by

cabalzajerome15
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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.

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