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Mathematics LibreTexts

5.5: Application I - Translating from Verbal to Mathematical Expressions

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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.

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.

Example 5.5.1

 six 6 more than + a number x6+x . 

Example 5.5.2

 Fifteen 15 minus 15 a number x15x . 

Example 5.5.3

 A quantity y less  eight. 8y8

Example 5.5.4

 Twice 2 a number x is =ten.102x=10

Example 5.5.5

 One half 12 of  a number z is = twenty 2012z=20

Example 5.5.6

Three3timesa numberyis=five5more than+twice2the same numbery3y=5+2y

Practice Set A

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

Practice Problem 5.5.1

Eleven more than a number.

Answer

11+x

Practice Problem 5.5.2

Nine minus a number.

Answer

9x

Practice Problem 5.5.3

A quantity less twenty.

Answer

x20

Practice Problem 5.5.4

Four times a number is thirty two.

Answer

4x=32

Practice Problem 5.5.5

One third of a number is six.

Answer

x3=6

Practice Problem 5.5.6

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

Answer

10x=8+5x

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.

Example 5.5.7

 A number divided by five, (x÷5) minus  ten, 10 is = fifteen. 15x510=15

Commas set off terms

Example 5.5.8

 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. 85+x=10

Example 5.5.9

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

Example 5.5.10

A number plus one is divided by three times the number minus twelve and the result is four.
(x+1)÷(3x12)=4x+13x12=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+13x12=4

Example 5.5.11

Some phrases and sentences do not translate directly. We must be careful to read them properly. The word from often appears in such phrases and sentences. The word from means "a point of departure for motion." The following translation will illustrate this use.

The translation of a verbal expressions 'Fifteen is subtracted from some quantity' into mathematical expressions is x minus fifteen.

The word from indicates the motion (subtraction) is to begin at the point of "some quantity."

Example 5.5.12

Eight less than some quantity. Notice that less than could be replaced with from.

x8

Practice Set B

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

Practice Problem 5.5.7

A number divided by sixteen, plus one, is five.

Answer

x16+1=5

Practice Problem 5.5.8

Seven times two more than a number is twenty-one.

Answer

7(2+x)=21

Practice Problem 5.5.9

A number divided by two more than itself is zero.

Answer

x2+x=0

Practice Problem 5.5.10

A number minus five is divided by twice the number plus three and the result is seventeen.

Answer

x52x+3=17

Practice Problem 5.5.11

Fifty-two is subtracted from some quantity.

Answer

x52

Practice Problem 5.5.12

An unknown quantity is subtracted from eleven and the result is five less than the unknown quantity.

Answer

11x=x5

Exercises

For the following problems, translate the following phrases or sentences into mathematical expressions or equations.

Exercise 5.5.1

A quantity less four.

Answer

a4

Exercise 5.5.2

Eight more than a number.

Exercise 5.5.3

A number plus seven.

Answer

b+7

Exercise 5.5.4

A number minus three.

Exercise 5.5.5

Negative five plus an unknown quantity.

Answer

5+c

Exercise 5.5.6

Negative sixteen minus some quantity.

Exercise 5.5.7

Fourteen added to twice a number.

Answer

2d+14

Exercise 5.5.8

Ten added to three times some number.

Exercise 5.5.9

One third minus an unknown quantity.

Answer

13e

Exercise 5.5.10

Twice a number is eleven.

Exercise 5.5.11

Four ninths of a number is twenty-one.

Answer

49f=21

Exercise 5.5.12

One third of a number is two fifths.

Exercise 5.5.13

Three times a number is nine more than twice the number.

Answer

3g=2g+9

Exercise 5.5.14

Five times a number is that number minus two.

Exercise 5.5.15

Twice a number added to six results in thirty.

Answer

2h+6=30

Exercise 5.5.16

Ten times a number less four results in sixty-six.

Exercise 5.5.18

A number less twenty-five is equal to 3.019.

Answer

k25=3.019

Exercise 5.5.19

Seven more than some number is five more than twice the number.

Exercise 5.5.20

When a number is divided by four, the result is sixty-eight.

Answer

m4=68

Exercise 5.5.21

Eleven fifteenths of two more than a number is eight.

Exercise 5.5.22

One tenth of a number is that number less one.

Answer

n10=n1

Exercise 5.5.23

Two more than twice a number is one half the number less three.

Exercise 5.5.24

A number is equal to itself plus four times itself.

Answer

x=x+4x

Exercise 5.5.25

Three fifths of a quantity added to the quantity itself is thirty-nine.

Exercise 5.5.26

A number plus seven is divided by two and the result is twenty-two.

Answer

Q+72=22

Exercise 5.5.27

Ten times a number minus one is divided by fourteen and the result is one.

Exercise 5.5.28

A number is added to itself then divided by three. This result is then divided by three. The entire result is fifteen.

Answer

r+r33=15

Exercise 5.5.29

Ten divided by two more than a number is twenty-one.

Exercise 5.5.30

Five divided by a number plus six is fourteen.

Answer

5s+6=14

Exercise 5.5.31

Twelve divided by twice a number is fifty-five.

Exercise 5.5.32

Twenty divided by eight times a number added to one is nine.

Answer

208x+1=9

Exercise 5.5.33

A number divided by itself, plus one, results in seven.

Exercise 5.5.34

A number divided by ten, plus four, results in twenty-four.

Answer

v10+4=24

Exercise 5.5.35

A number plus six, divided by two, is seventy-one.

Exercise 5.5.36

A number plus six, divided by two, plus five, is forty-three.

Answer

w+62+5=43

Exercise 5.5.37

A number multiplied by itself added to five is thirty-one.

Exercise 5.5.38

A quantity multiplied by seven plus twice itself is ninety.

Answer

7y+2y=90

Exercise 5.5.39

A number is increased by one and then multiplied by five times itself. The result is eighty-four.

Exercise 5.5.40

A number is added to six and that result is multiplied by thirteen. This result is then divided by six times the number. The entire result is equal to fifty-nine.

Answer

(z+16)136z=59

Exercise 5.5.41

A number is subtracted from ten and that result is multiplied by four. This result is then divided by three more than the number. The entire result is equal to six.

Exercise 5.5.42

An unknown quantity is decreased by eleven. This result is then divided by fifteen. Now, one is subtracted from this result and five is obtained.

Answer

x11151=5

Exercise 5.5.43

Ten less than some number.

Exercise 5.5.44

Five less than some unknown number.

Answer

n5

Exercise 5.5.45

Twelve less than a number.

Exercise 5.5.46

One less than an unknown quantity.

Answer

m1

Exercise 5.5.47

Sixteen less than some number is forty-two.

Exercise 5.5.48

Eight less than some unknown number is three.

Answer

p8=3

Exercise 5.5.49

Seven is added to ten less than some number. The result is one.

Exercise 5.5.50

Twenty-three is divided by two less than twice some number and the result is thirty-four.

Answer

232n2=34

Exercises for Review

Exercise 5.5.51

Supply the missing word. The point on a line that is associated with a particular number is called the of that number.

Answer

graph

Exercise 5.5.52

Supply the missing word. An exponent records the number of identical in a multiplication.

Exercise 5.5.53

Write the algebraic definition of the absolute value of the number a.

Answer

|a|={a, if a0a, if a<0

Exercise 5.5.54

Solve the equation 4y+5=3.

Exercise 5.5.55

Solve the equation 2(3x+1)5x=4(x6)+17.

Answer

x=3

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This page titled 5.5: Application I - Translating from Verbal to Mathematical Expressions is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Denny Burzynski & Wade Ellis, Jr. (OpenStax CNX) .

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