4.

3 Algebraic Expressions: Translating English sentences to mathematical statements

LEARNING OUTCOME:
In this lesson, you will be able to:
 translate verbal phrases to mathematical phrases and vice versa.

Enabling Activity:

Title: Matching
 Type

Time: 5 minutes
Material: Hand-outs
Direction: Choose the letter of the phrase that best matches each expressions.
____1. 10-4 a. the quotient of 10 and 4
____2. 10 ∙ 4 b. the product of 10 and n increased by 4
____3. 4+10 c. the difference of 10 and 4
____4. 10 ÷ 4 d. 4 increased by 10
____5. 10n +4 e. 10 multiplied by 4

Title: Exploration
Time: 10 minutes
Material: Hand-outs

a. Direction: Translate mathematical phrases to verbal phrases.

1. 8m + 5 _______________________________________
2. n÷ 7 _______________________________________
3. 9 – 15 _______________________________________
4. 5n +12 _______________________________________
5. 3 – 7x _______________________________________
b. Direction: Translate verbal phrases to mathematical phrases.
1. 9 more than a number _______________
2. 14 decreased by a number _______________
3. 12 more than 5 times a number _______________
4. a number divided by 7 _______________
5. 2 raised to a number _______________

Discussion: (15min)

Operational
There are many ways to express the addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division of algebraic
expressions. Some verbal expressions and their algebraic expressions with addition and subtraction are
shown on table 1.
Verbal phrases Algebraic translation Verbal phrases Algebraic
translation
the sum of m and 8 m+8 the difference of 8 and m 8–m
10 added to c c+10 10 subtracted from c c – 10
7 plus a 7+a 7 minus a 7–a
5 more than t t+5 5 less than t t–5
q increased by p q+p t decreased by p t–p
11 greater than n n + 11 9 take away d 9–d
Exceeds r by 10 r + 10 18 reduced by n 18 – n
1000 less f 1000 – f

Below are some verbal phrases and their algebraic expressions with multiplication and division.
Verbal phrases Algebraic translation Verbal phrases Algebraic
translation
the product of 8 and 8m the quotient of 8 and m 8
m 10c m
10 times c 2x
twice x 1 10 divided by c 10
p
1 2 c
of p
2 7b
 7 multiplied by b 7
the ratio of 7 and a a

p
p split into 4 equal parts 4

10
x divided into 10 x

q
10 divided into q 10

Main Task:
Title: Translation
Time: 10 minutes
Material: Hand-outs

Translate each into an algebraic expression. Used any letter to represent the unknown unless otherwise
specified.
1. Nine less than a certain number ____________
2. Thirteen decreased by a number. ____________
3. 14 more than the product of 9 and t. ____________
4. The sum of n and 7 multiplied by 11. ____________
5. Five times the product of d and e. ____________
6. Thrice the sum of x, y, and z. ____________
7. 50 decreased by the product of c and d. ____________
8. Six times the number x, increased by 10. ____________
9. Eleven more than the sum of two different members. ____________
10. The product of 8 and n, increased by the product of q and r. ____________
Reinforcement:

Title: Translation
Time: 10 minutes
Material: Hand-outs
Translate each into verbal phrases.
1. 9n + 1 = ___________________________________________________
3
2. + 5= ___________________________________________________
n
3. 3 ( a + b + c) = ___________________________________________________
4. 10 – 4n = ___________________________________________________
5. 3 + 5m = ____________________________________________________

SUMMARY:

Operational
There are many ways to express the addition, subtraction, multiplication, or
division of algebraic expressions. Some verbal expressions and their algebraic
expressions with addition and subtraction are shown on table 1.
Verbal phrases Algebraic Verbal phrases Algebraic
translation translation
the sum of m and m+8 the difference of 8 and m 8–m
8 c+10 10 subtracted from c c – 10
10 added to c 7+a 7 minus a 7–a
7 plus a t+5 5 less than t t–5
5 more than t q+p t decreased by p t–p
q increased by p n + 11 9 take away d 9–d
11 greater than n r + 10 18 reduced by n 18 – n
Exceeds r by 10 1000 less f 1000 – f

REFERENCES:

Textbook:
Bautista, L., et al. (2012). College Algebra (2nded.). C and E Publishing, Inc.
Online references:
Translation of mathematical statements in symbols.
https://imathblog.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/translation-of-mathematical-statement-in-symbols/
Sub topics: