LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

Blue Whales During its summer feeding season, a blue whale eats about 4 tons of food every day. To find about how many tons of food a blue whale eats in a given number of days, you can multiply the number of days by 4, as shown in the table.

Days 1 2 10 d

Tons of food eaten 41 42 4 10 4d

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LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

A numerical expression consists of numbers and operations. In the table, the expression 4 10 is a numerical expression. It can also be written as 4 10 or 4(10).

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

A numerical expression consists of numbers and operations. In the table, the expression 4 10 is a numerical expression. It can also be written as 4 10 or 4(10).

A variable is a letter used to represent one or more numbers. A variable expression consists of numbers, variables, and operations.

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

A numerical expression consists of numbers and operations. In the table, the expression 4 10 is a numerical expression. It can also be written as 4 10 or 4(10).

A variable is a letter used to represent one or more numbers. A variable expression consists of numbers, variables, and operations.

To evaluate a variable expression, substitute a number for each variable and evaluate the resulting numerical expression.

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

EXAMPLE

Evaluating a Variable Expression

Evaluate the expression 4 d when d = 120 to find out about how many tons of food a blue whale eats in a feeding season of 120 days. SOLUTION

4 d = 4 120

Substitute 120 for d.

= 480
ANSWER

Multiply.

A blue whale eats about 480 tons of food in 120 days.

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

Study Strategy
When you write a variable expression involving multiplication, avoid using the symbol . It may be confused with the variable x.

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

EXAMPLE

Evaluating Expressions with Two Variables

Evaluate the expression when x = 10 and y = 4.

x + y = 10 + 4 = 14

Substitute 10 for x and 4 for y. Add.

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

EXAMPLE

Evaluating Expressions with Two Variables

Evaluate the expression when x = 10 and y = 4.

x + y = 10 + 4 = 14

Substitute 10 for x and 4 for y. Add.

xy = 10(4) = 40

Substitute 10 for x and 4 for y. Multiply.

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

Writing Variable Expressions You can solve a real-world problem by creating a verbal model and using it to write a variable expression. A verbal model describes a problem using words as labels and using math symbols to relate the words. The table shows common words and phrases that indicate mathematical operations.

Common Words and Phrases that Indicate Operations Addition plus the sum of increased by total more than added to Subtraction minus the difference of decreased by fewer than less than subtracted from Multiplication times the product of multiplied by of Division divided by divided into the quotient of

LESSON

1.1 Expressions and Variables

EXAMPLE

Evaluating a Variable Expression

Baseball You plan to divide the 120 players in a baseball league into teams with the same number of players. Use a verbal model to write a variable expression for the number of teams if you know the number of players on each team. SOLUTION Let p represent the number of players on each team. The word divide indicates division.
Number of teams

Number of players in league

Number of players on each team

= 120 p
ANSWER The number of teams is 120 p, or p .
120

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