Writing Expressions and Equations

Word Clues Often words and phrases suggest addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You just need to know those words! Take notes!! You are about to receive your clue words!

ADDITION CLUES Plus Sum More than Increased by In all

SUBTRACTION CLUES Minus Difference Less than Less Decreased by

MULTIPLICATION CLUES Times Produce Multiplied Twice Each

DIVISION CLUES Divided Quotient Per Separate

Writing phrases as algebraic expressions Five dollars less than Jennifer earned Less than is a subtraction clue When less than is used, the 2nd item is always written first. Jennifer is the 2nd item; we don’t know her earnings, so use a variable.

Writing phrases as algebraic expressions Five dollars less than Jennifer earned Since less than is subtraction and the 2nd item goes first, the beginning of the expression would like this: j -

Writing phrases as algebraic expressions Five dollars less than Jennifer earned Now write the rest of the expression to complete the phrase! j - $5

Writing phrases as algebraic expressions Twice as many tomatoes as last year What’s our clue word? TWICE Do we know how many tomatoes there were last year? NO So, what should be used for the tomatoes? VARIABLE

Writing phrases as algebraic expressions Twice as many tomatoes as last year What does twice mean? TWO TIMES When a coefficient and a variable are being multiplied, remember how to write them!! SMASHED TOGETHER LIKE PB&J

Writing phrases as algebraic expressions Twice as many tomatoes as last year 2t

Writing phrases as algebraic expressions 3 more runs than the Pirates scored Word Clue: MORE Variable Clue: Pirates undefined 3 + p

Writing phrases as algebraic equations The ONLY difference between expressions and equations: the word: IS

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Five more than a number is 20. Word Clue: MORE THAN Variable Clue: NUMBER IS UNDEFINED Equation Clue: IS

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Five more than a number is 20. Write it as you read it!!! 5 + n = 20

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Three times Jack’s age equals 12. Word Clue: TIMES Variable Clue: JACK’S AGE UNDEFINED Equation Clue: EQUALS

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Three times Jack’s age equals 12. Write it as you read it!! 3j = 12

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Ten less a number is 8 Word Clue: LESS Variable Clue: NUMBER IS UNDEFINED Equation Clue: IS Notice that it is only LESS, not less than. This means to write it as you read it!!

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Ten less a number is 8 10 – n = 8

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Seven less than a number is 6 Word Clue: LESS Variable Clue: NUMBER IS UNDEFINED Equation Clue: IS Notice that it is LESS THAN, not less. This means to write the 2nd item first!!

Writing phrases as algebraic equations Seven less than a number is 6 n – 7 = 6

Writing phrases as algebraic equations and expressions You try these! Eight more than x The sum of a number and four is -9 Nine less than t Twice a number equals -10 A number less 4 is 12. Five years older than Luis. A number divided by -12 Twice as many oranges. A number less 6. -15 divided by some number.