English To Algebra 

A Translation Guide

Addition     Subtraction     Multiplication     Division     Equals

 

 

OPERATION

ENGLISH PHRASE

ALGEBRAIC TRANSLATION


Addition
+

 

a number plus 5

7 added to a number

8 more than a number

12 greater than a number

a number increased by 6

the sum of a number and 3

 

 

 

x + 5

x + 7

x + 8

x + 12

x + 6

x + 3

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Subtraction
:
   -



Note
: the order is very important here.

a number decreased by 5

8 less than a number

6 subtracted from a number

7 less n

4 minus a number

7 reduced by a number

the difference between a number and 3

 

x 5

x 8

x 6

7 n

4 x

7 x

x 3

 

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Multiplication:   ·

Multiplication is usually implied when two quantities sit next to each other with no symbol between them or if two quantities are in parentheses.

 

the product of 7 and a number

15 times B

twice a number

23% of a number

half of a number

4 multiplied by a number

 

 

 

7·x   or  (7)(xor    7x

15B

2x

0.23x

½ x

4x

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Division
÷



the quotient of a number and 5

A number divided by 6

 


The ratio of a number to 4




6 into a number

 

 

 

x ÷  5
or

x
÷  6
or 


x
÷  4
or 


x
÷  6
or 

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Equals:    =

 

Any form of the verb to be (is, was, are, will be),

yields, produces, results in,

equals, is the same as

The interest earned by account A was $500 more than the interest earned by account B.

 






A = B + 500

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