<h2>Translating Word Phrases to Algebraic Expressions</h2>
<p>When we first introduced the operation symbols, we saw that the expression \(a-b\) may be read in several ways as shown below.</p>
<p><img alt="This table has six rows. The first row has a - b. The second row states a minus b. The third row states the difference of a and b. The fourth row states subtract b from a. The fifth row states b subtracted from a. The sixth row states b less than a." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/c69dde56-5610-4d86-8394-34d36aab83b5"/></p>
<p>Be careful to get \(a\) and \(b\) in the right order!</p>
<div class="ns-school-emp">
<h2>Example</h2>
<div class="ns-school-defn">
<div data-type="example">
<div>
<p>Translate and then simplify:</p>
<ul>
<li>the difference of \(13\) and \(-21\)</li>
<li>subtract \(24\) from \(-19\)</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Solution</h3>
<div>
<p>A <em>difference</em> means subtraction. Subtract the numbers in the order they are given.</p>
<table data-label="" summary="This figure has three rows. The first row states the difference of 13 and negative 21. The second row states translate and has 13 minus negative 21. The third row states simplify and has 34.">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td><img alt="." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/03ad275f-818a-4de5-8317-85a2e0b6f1c9"/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Translate.</td>
<td><img alt="." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/32f7d168-5cfd-43dd-9fc6-7e84ac0eb6a5"/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Simplify.</td>
<td><img alt="." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/138e78ab-9b48-496f-9572-ddc1e0ba808a"/></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><em>Subtract</em> means to take \(24\) away from \(-19.\)</p>
<table data-label="" summary="This figure has three rows. The first row states the subtract 24 from negative 19. The second row states translate and has negative 19 minus 24. The third row states simplify and has negative 43.">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td><img alt="." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/326b9b3c-3778-4a79-bfd3-a36e406f3999"/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Translate.</td>
<td><img alt="." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/4ab008f8-9cdd-4d22-92a6-ac22c6f2cd22"/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Simplify.</td>
<td><img alt="." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/51219d7e-690d-4649-b461-0b17b654456a"/></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

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Translating Word Phrases to Algebraic Expressions

Mathematics studies measurement, relationships, and properties of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus are popular topics in mathematics.

Mathematics

Explore the world of integers, learn to locate numbers on the number line, find opposites, simplify expressions with absolute value, model addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of integers, and solve equations using properties of equality in this tutorial.



Translate.
Simplify.


Translate.
Simplify.

Translating Word Phrases to Algebraic Expressions

Translating Word Phrases to Algebraic Expressions

Example

Solution

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