Writing Expressions for Word Phrases
1
ADDITION
SUBTRACTION
MULTIPLICATION
sum
plus
quotient
less than
of
more than
product
decreased by
difference
divided by increased by
minus
times
multiplied by
DIVISION
Organize the words.
2
ADDITION +
Words that mean Verbal Phrase Variable Expression
"Addition"
1) Plus
A number y y + 5
plus 5.
2) More than 8 more than y + 8
a number y.
* Translate "more than" phrases backwards.
3) Sum The sum of 3 3 + y
and a number y.
3
SUBTRACTION −
Words that mean Verbal Phrase Variable
"Subtraction" Expression
1) Difference
The difference y ­ 12
of a number y
and 12.
2) Less Than 3 less than a y ­ 3
number y.
* Translate "less than" phrases backwards.
3) Minus 8 minus a 8 ­ y
number y. 4
MULTIPLICATION x • ( )
Words that mean Verbal Phrase Variable
"Multiplication" Expression
1) Product The product 2 • 8 , 2 x 8 , of 2 and 8. 2(8)
2) Times A number y 5y , 5 x y,
times 5. 5 • y, 5(y)
* When multiplying a number and a variable, the
number is always written first.
3) Multiplied by A number y 3y, 3 x y, multiplied by 3. 3 • y, 3(y)
5
DIVISION ÷ −
Words that mean Verbal Phrase Variable "Division"
Expression
1﴿ Quotient The quotient of 12 ÷ 4, 12 and 4. 12/4, 12
4
2﴿ Divided By A number y y ÷ 2, divided by 2. y/2, y
2
6
Directions: Organize the "addition" words by dragging out the words from the word bank. more than
remainder
times
add
decreased by quotient
plus
subtract
difference
multiply
total
divide
product
sum
minus
less than
increased by
ADDITION
7
Directions: Organize the "subtraction" words by dragging out the words from the word bank. more than
remainder
times
add
decreased by quotient
plus
subtract
difference
multiply
total
divide
product
sum
minus
less than
increased by
SUBTRACTION
8
Directions: Organize the "multiplication" words by dragging out the words from the word bank. more than
remainder
times
add
decreased by quotient
plus
subtract
difference
multiply
total
divide
product
sum
minus
less than
increased by
MULTIPLICATION
9
Directions: Organize the "division" words by dragging out the words from the word bank. more than
remainder
times
add
decreased by quotient
plus
subtract
difference
multiply
total
divide
product
sum
minus
less than
increased by
DIVISION
10
Translate the verbal phrase into a variable expression. y + 20
1) The sum of a number y and 20.
2) Six more than twice a number y.
2y + 6
3) The difference of 8 and a number y.
4) 9 divided by a number y.
8 ­ y
9 ÷ y, 9 y, 9
y
5) The product of a number y and 20. 20y, 20(y), 20•y
6) Two less than a number y. y ­ 2
(Click on the yellow box to reveal the answer.) 11
Translate the phrase as a variable expression. Click on the speaker to reveal answer.
2(4y)
5(y+3w)
8(12 ­ 2)
7) Two more than 4 times a number y
8) Five times the sum of a number y and 3 times another number w.
9) Eight times the difference of 12 and 2.
4y + 2
5(y + 3)•w
8(12 + 2)
12
Match the expression to the phrase by dragging the variable expression to the verbal phrase. 14 ­ y
14 ÷ (7 ­ y)
7(14 + y)
14y
2(y + 7)
y + 14
7 + 14y
y ­ 14
7 + y
14 ÷ y
10) A number y multiplied by 14.
11) The quotient of 14 divided by a number y.
12) 14 less than a number y.
13) 7 increased by a number y.
14) A number y subtracted from 14.
13
Match the expression to the phrase by dragging the variable expression to the verbal phrase. 14 ­ y
14 ÷ (7 ­ y)
7(14 + y)
14y
7 + y
2(y + 7)
y + 14
7 + 14y
y ­ 14
14 ÷ y
15) 14 more than a number y.
16) 7 more than the product of 14 and a number y.
17) Twice the sum of a number y and 7. 18) Product of 7 and the sum of 14 and a number y. 19) 14 divided by the difference when a number y is subtracted from 7. 14
Match the expression to the phrase by dragging the variable expression to the verbal phrase. 24y
3y
60y
y ÷ 60
y ÷ 3
y ÷ 24
20) The number of hours in y days.
21) The number of yards in y feet.
22) The number of minutes in y seconds.
23) The number of seconds in y minutes.
24) The number of days in y hours.
25) The number of feet in y yards. 15