Translate Word Phrases to Math

In a previous lesson, we translated math notation for division into words. Now we’ll translate word phrases into math notation. Some of the words that indicate division are given in a table in this lesson. For instance, the word quotient tells us to divide.

Translate Word Phrases to Math Notation

In a previous lesson, we translated math notation for division into words. Now we’ll translate word phrases into math notation. Some of the words that indicate division are given in the table below.

Operation Word Phrase Example Expression
Division divided by
quotient of
divided into
\(12\) divided by \(4\)
the quotient of \(12\) and \(4\)
\(4\) divided into \(12\)
\(12÷4\)
\(\frac{12}{4}\)
\(12\text{/}4\)
\(4\overline{)12}\)

Example

Translate and simplify: the quotient of \(51\) and \(17.\)

Solution

The word quotient tells us to divide.

\(\begin{array}{cccc}& & & \text{the quotient of 51 and 17}\hfill \\ \text{Translate.}\hfill & & & 51÷17\hfill \\ \text{Divide.}\hfill & & & 3\hfill \end{array}\)

We could just as correctly have translated the quotient of \(51\) and \(17\) using the notation

\(17\overline{)51}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{or}\phantom{\rule{0.4em}{0ex}}\frac{51}{17}.\)

Extra:

Translate and simplify: the quotient of \(91\) and \(13.\)

Answer

91 ÷ 13; 7

Extra:

Translate and simplify: the quotient of \(52\) and \(13.\)

Answer

52 ÷ 13; 4

This lesson is part of:

Introducing Numbers

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