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MATHEMATICS CLASS REVIEW

Introduction to Word Problem

Everyday English has got something to do with the world of Mathematics. Yes, as great
as that. The English words used in our everyday expressions has some mathematical
implications and we’ll look at that shortly.
Writing the mathematical meaning of the spoken grammar using numbers (such as 1, 2,
3, 4,…), mathematical operations ( +, - , × , ÷), fractions (1/2, 5/8) and some chosen
letters ( commonly x∨ y ) is what Word Problem talks about.
Ready 👍?
Let’s Roll;
Consider the following statements:
1. Add five and two
2. Add ten and twenty
3. Subtract seven from twelve
Now, these simple statements, appeal to our sense of mathematics, and we think of
them as
1. 5 + 2
2. 10 + 20
3. 12 – 7
Got that right already 😘, Let’s continue
KEY EXPRESSIONS USED IN WORD PROBLEM AND THEIR MATHEMATICAL
FORMS
WORD MATHEMATICS
Addition
Add +
More than +
Greater than +
Increased by +
Subtraction
 Subtract -
Less than -
Decrease by -
Equal sign
Is =
Final result =
Will be =
Multiplication
Times ×
Of ×
Multiplied by ×
Fractions
One-third 1/3
Five-sixth 5/6
Three- seventh 3/7

NOTE ! NOTE !! NOTE!!!

As stated earlier, commonly, the expressions would be around an unknown number.
How do I do it then? We got you. You choose a letter to represent that number. Yes like
x∨ y .
It is usually described in this form
1. A number is
2. A certain number is
They are not clear what number they are, and so we choose a letter ( Yes like x∨ y )to
represent that until we find what number it is.

Now let’s see what we can do !

Suppose the number is x
a. 5 more than a number (means x +5 ¿
b. The number increased by 10 (means x +10 ¿
c. Six less than the number ( x−6 ¿
d. Seven times the number (7 × x∨7 x ¿
e. Three eighths of a number (⅜ × x ¿
You are advised to note carefully the expressions used in the above starter examples
from the Key Note table.

Let’s see some worked examples

E.g 1. A certain number is subtracted from 5 and the final result is 8. What is the
number?
Steps in Solving:
Step 1. We don’t know the number, so we can say let the number be x
Step 2. Subtracted from 5 means (5−x ¿
Step 3. And the final result is 8 ( means everything we have equals, thus = 8)
Step 4. We put the expressions together and solve for our unknown number ( x ¿
Solution
5−x=8(grouplike terms)
−x=8−5(take 5¿8)
−x=3(divide through by−1)
x=−3 ¿

( Let’s practice more examples in class and dive straight into some complex examples
😍)
(Watch Out for extra note on Word Problem 👀)