Objective

The student will be able to:

translate verbal expressions into

math expressions and vice versa.

SOL: A.2

Designed by Skip Tyler, Varina High School

 What is the area of a rectangle?

Length times Width

If the length is 3 meters and the width is 2
meters, what is the area?

A = L x W
A = 3 x 2 = 6 meters2

A, L and W are the variables. It is any
letter that represents an unknown number.

 An algebraic expression
contains:

1) one or more numbers or variables, and

2) one or more arithmetic operations.

Examples:

x - 3

3 • 2n

 In expressions, there are many
different ways to write multiplication.

  1)
ab

  2)
a • b


  3)
a(b) or (a)b

  4)
(a)(b)


  5)
a x b

We are not going to use the multiplication symbol
any more. Why?


Division, on the other hand, is
written as:

1)

2) x ÷ 3

Throughout this year, you will hear many
words that mean addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. Complete the
table with as many as you know.

Here are some phrases you may have listed.
The terms with * are ones that are often
used.

Write an algebraic expression for

1) m increased by 5.

m + 5

2) 7 times the product of x and t.

7xt or 7(x)(t) or 7 • x • t

3) 11 less than 4 times a number.

4n - 11

4) two more than 6 times a number.

6n + 2

5) the quotient of a number and 12.

Which of the following expressions represents 
7 times a number decreased by 13?

1.  7x + 13

2.  7x - 13

3.  13 - 7x

4.  13 + 7x

Answer Now

 Which one of the following expressions
represents 28 less than three times a number?

1.  28 - 3x

2.  3x - 28

3.  28 + 3x

4.  3x + 28

Answer Now

 Write a verbal expression for: 

1) 8 + a.

The sum of 8 and a

2)

The ratio of m to r

Do you have a different way of writing
these?

Which of the following verbal expressions
represents 2x + 9?

1.  9 increased by twice a number

2.  a number increased by nine

3.  twice a number decreased by 9

4.  9 less than twice a number

Answer Now

Which of the following expressions represents
the sum of 16 and five times a number?

1.  5x - 16

2.  16x + 5

3.  16 + 5x

4.  16 - 5x

Answer Now

When looking at the expression
103, 10 is called the

base

and 3 is called the

exponent or power.

103 means 10 • 10 • 10

3
10 = 1000

 How is it said?
21

Two to the first power

22

Two to the second power or two squared

23

Two to the third power or two cubed

2n7

Two times n to the seventh power

Which of the following verbal expressions
represents x2 + 2x?

1.  the sum of a number squared and
twice a number

2.  the sum of a number and twice the
number

3.  twice a number less than the number
squared

4.  the sum of a number and twice the
number squared

Answer Now

 Which of the following expressions
represents four less than the cube of a
1.  4 – x3
number?

2.  4 – 3x

3.  3x – 4

4.  x3 – 4

Answer Now

 Evaluate.
21

2

22

2 • 2 = 4

23

2 • 2 • 2 = 8

2n7

We can’t evaluate because we don’t
know what n equals to!!

 Is the same as 35 3
5 ?
Evaluate each and find out!

35 = 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 = 243

3
5 = 5 • 5 • 5 = 125

243 ≠ 125

They are not the same!

http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/math/hcpsalgebra1/module1-1.html