How are written descriptions translated into algebra?

How are written descriptions translated into algebra?

• A. By converting verbal descriptions into algebraic expressions and vice versa
• B. By guessing the numbers
• C. By solving equations directly
• D. By graphing the description

Answer: (A)

Translating written descriptions into algebra means turning the words that describe quantities and operations into symbols that math can work with, and reading those symbols back into words. To do this, pick a variable for the unknown, then map phrases to operations: "more than" or "plus" means addition, "less than" or "minus" means subtraction, "twice" or "times" means multiplication, and "divided by" means division. For example, "a number increased by five" becomes x + 5, and "the product of a number and three" becomes 3x. In the other direction, an expression like x + 5 describes the situation "a number increased by five." This two-way translation is how written descriptions become algebra and how algebra describes the written words.

Translating written descriptions into algebra means turning the words that describe quantities and operations into symbols that math can work with, and reading those symbols back into words. To do this, pick a variable for the unknown, then map phrases to operations: "more than" or "plus" means addition, "less than" or "minus" means subtraction, "twice" or "times" means multiplication, and "divided by" means division. For example, "a number increased by five" becomes x + 5, and "the product of a number and three" becomes 3x. In the other direction, an expression like x + 5 describes the situation "a number increased by five." This two-way translation is how written descriptions become algebra and how algebra describes the written words.