CCBC Math 081 Translating English Sentences Into Mathematical Equations and Solving Section 5.

7
Third Edition 7 pages

5.7 Translating English Sentences into Mathematical Equations and Solving

Mathematical equations can be used to describe many situations in the real world. To do this, we
must learn how to translate given information into an algebraic equation. Although no single
method will work for solving all applied problems, the following approach is suggested to help
in the problem-solving process.

KEY WORDS AND PHRASES

Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division Equals

sum difference product quotient is/are

increased by decreased by times divided by was/were
more than less than of ratio of will be
plus minus gives
factor of per
total fewer than yields
doubled
combined reduced by
added to take away tripled
in all etc.

STEPS TO SOLVING APPLIED PROBLEMS

Step 1: Read the problem carefully, more than once if necessary, until you understand it. Draw
a picture, if necessary. Identify what you are being asked to find.

Step 2: Choose a variable to represent an unknown quantity.

Step 3: Translate the problem into an equation using a well-chosen variable.

Step 4: Solve the equation.

Step 5: Check the answer in the original problem, and interpret the solution as it relates to the
problem. Be sure that your answer makes sense in the context of the problem.

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CCBC Math 081 Translating English Sentences Into Mathematical Equations and Solving Section 5.7
Third Edition 7 pages

Example 1: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.

Twelve more than a number is seventeen.

Solution

Step 1: Read the problem carefully. We must find an unknown number.

Step 2: Choose a variable to represent the unknown.

Let x = the number.

Step 3: Translate the information into an algebraic equation by rereading the problem slowly and
“in parts.”

Statement: Twelve more than a number Is seventeen.

Meaning: add 12 to the unknown Equals 17.

Equation: + 12 x = 17.

The equation is x + 12 = 17.

Step 4: Solve the equation.

x  12  17
x  12 - 12  17 - 12 Subtract 12 from both sides of the equation.
x5 Simplify.

Step 5: Check the answer. Does the answer make sense? 12 more than 5 is 17? Yes, the answer
is correct.

Practice 1: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.
Four more than a number is negative eighteen.

Watch It: http://youtu.be/yZne7g0VVt8 Answer: 4 + n = -18, n = -22

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CCBC Math 081 Translating English Sentences Into Mathematical Equations and Solving Section 5.7
Third Edition 7 pages

Example 2: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.

The difference of a number and 45 is 12.

Solution

Step 1: Read the problem carefully. We must find an unknown number.

Step 2: Choose a variable to represent the unknown.

Let x = the number.

Step 3: Translate the information into an algebraic equation by rereading the problem slowly and
“in parts.”

Statement: Difference of a number and 45 is 12.

Meaning: x- 45 equals 12

Equation: x- 45 = 12

The equation is x – 45 = 12.

Step 4: Solve the equation.

x  45  12
x  45 + 45  12 + 45 Add 45 to both sides of the equation.
x  57 Simplify.

Step 5: Check the answer. Does the answer make sense? Is the difference between 57 and 45
equal to 12? Yes. Therefore x is 57.

Practice 2: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.
The difference of a number and 23 is 4.

Watch It: http://youtu.be/xL4WX1sqAes Answer: n – 23 = 4, n = 27

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CCBC Math 081 Translating English Sentences Into Mathematical Equations and Solving Section 5.7
Third Edition 7 pages

Example 3: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.

Five less than two times a number is the same as seven.

Solution

Step 1: Read the problem carefully. We must find an unknown number.

Step 2: Choose a variable to represent the unknown.

Let x = the number.

Step 3: Translate the information into an algebraic equation by rereading the problem slowly and
“in parts.”

Statement: Five less than two times a is the same as seven.

number

Meaning: Subtract 5 2 times the equals 7

from unknown

Equation: -5 2x = 7

The equation is 2x – 5 = 7.

Step 4: Solve the equation

2x  5  7
2x  5 + 5  7 + 5 Add 5 to both sides of the equation.
2 x  12 Simplify.
2 x 12
 Divide both sides by 2.
2 2
x6 Simplify.

Step 5: Check the answer. Does the answer make sense? Five less than two times 6 is 2(6) – 5 =
7. Thus, the answer is correct. The number is 6.

Practice 3: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.
Ten less than three times a number is the same as eleven.

Watch It: http://youtu.be/AOIfRsq1p9Q Answer: 3n – 10 = 11, n = 7

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CCBC Math 081 Translating English Sentences Into Mathematical Equations and Solving Section 5.7
Third Edition 7 pages

Example 4: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.

Two fifths of a number is -2.

Solution

Step 1: Read the problem carefully. We must find an unknown number.

Step 2: Choose a variable to represent the unknown.

Let x = the number.

Step 3: Translate the information into an algebraic equation by rereading the problem slowly and
“in parts.”

Statement: Two fifths of a number is -2.

Meaning: 2 equals -2
times x
5
Equation: 2 = -2
x
5

2
The equation is x  2
5

Step 4: Solve the equation.

2
x  2
5
2
5  x  2  5 Multiply both sides of the equation by 5.
5
2 x  10 Simplify.
2 x 10
 Divide both sides by 2.
2 2
x  5
Step 5: Check the answer. Does the answer make sense? Is two fifths of -5 equal to -2. Yes.

Practice 4: Write the following statement as an equation, and determine the number.
Three fourths of a number is -6.
3
Watch It: http://youtu.be/7t41S3F1o6U Answer: n  6 , n = -8
4

Watch All: http://youtu.be/AmxUlGHU2_c

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CCBC Math 081 Translating English Sentences Into Mathematical Equations and Solving Section 5.7
Third Edition 7 pages

5.7 Translation Exercises

Translate each of the following into an equation, and then solve the equation.

1. The sum of number and 12 is 30. Determine the number.

2. The sum of a number and 2 is 12. Determine the number.

3. The difference of a number and 12 is 30. Determine the number.

4. If 2 is subtracted from a number, the result is 4. Determine the number.

5. If three times a number is increased by 4, the result is -8. Determine the number.

6. When six is subtracted from five times a number, the result is 9. Determine the number.

7. The sum of 8 and 5 is equal to the difference of number and 7. Determine the number.

8. The sum of three times a number and 4 is 19. Determine the number.

9. The sum of twice a number and 5 is eleven. Determine the number.

10. Five times a number decreased by six is 29. Determine the number.

11. If 5 is added to the sum of twice a number and three times the number, the result is 25.
Determine the number.
12. Five less than 2 times a number is 7. Determine the number.

13. One half of a number is 24. Determine the number.

14. A number is one tenth less than 1.54. Determine the number.

15. Three tenths of a number is 2.1. Determine the number

16. The quotient of a number and 3 is 10. Determine the number.

3 1
17. The difference of 2 times a number and is . Determine the number.
4 2
18. The product of a number and 2.4 is 0.48. Determine the number.

19. Five eighths added to a number is 4. Determine the number.

20. The product of 5.3 and 10.2 is equal to a number times 0.6.

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CCBC Math 081 Translating English Sentences Into Mathematical Equations and Solving Section 5.7
Third Edition 7 pages

5.7 Translation Exercises Answers

1. Translation: x  12  30 11. Translation: 5   2 x  3x   25

Answer: x  18 Answer: x  4

2. Translation: x  2  12 12. Translation: 2 x  5  7

Answer: x  10 Answer: x  6
1
3. Translation: x  12  30 13. Translation: x  24
2
Answer: x  42 Answer: x  48

4. Translation: x  2  4 14. Translation: x  1.54  0.1

Answer: x  6 Answer: x  1.44

5. Translation: 3x  4  8 15. Translation: 0.3x  2.1

Answer: x  4 Answer: x  7

x
6. Translation: 5x  6  9 16. Translation:  10
3
Answer: x  3 Answer: x  30

3 1
7. Translation: 8  5  x  7 17. Translation: 2 x  
4 2
5
Answer: x  20 Answer: x 
8
8. Translation: 3x  4  19 18. Translation: 2.4 x  0.48
Answer: x  5 Answer: x  0.2

5
9. Translation: 2 x  5  11 19. Translation: x4
8
27
Answer: x  3 Answer: x 
8
10. Translation: 5x  6  29 20. Translation: (5.3)(10.2)  0.6x
Answer: x  7 Answer; x  90.1

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 CCBC Math 081 Chapter 5 Summary
Third Edition

CHAPTER 5 SUMMARY
Algebra
Section Like Terms: terms that have the same variables raised to the same power
5.1 Like Terms: 3x and 5x Unlike Terms: 3x and 5y
Like Terms: 3x 2 and 5x 2 Unlike Terms: 3x and 5x 2
Combining Like Terms – add the coefficients and keep the variable part the same
4 x  5x  3 y  8 y
9x  5 y
Evaluating Expressions – replace the variable with the given value and perform the
arithmetic using the proper order of operations
Evaluate 7 x  2 y if x  5 and y  3
7(5)  2(3)
35  6
29

Section PROPERTY DESCRIPTION ADDITION MULTIPLICATION

5.2 Reordering does not a b  ba a b  b a
Commutative
change the answer. 42  24 2 33 2
Regrouping does not (a  b)  c  a  (b  c) (a  b)  c  a  (b  c)
Associative change the answer. (5  8)  1  5  (8  1) (5 2) 3  5 (2 3)
a0  a a 1  a
The sum of a term and 0 60  6 4 1 4
is that same term.
Identity and and
The product of a factor
and 1 is that same factor. 0a  a 1 a  a
06  6 144
The sum of a number 1
a 1
and its opposite is 0. a  ( a )  0 a
Inverse
The product of a number 7  (7)  0 1
3 1
and its reciprocal is 1. 3
a  0=0
2 00
The product of a number and
Zero _____
and 0 is 0.
0  a=0
0 20

Section
5.3 Distributive Property:
2 ( 3x  4 )  2(3x)  2(4)  6 x  8

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 CCBC Math 081 Chapter 5 Summary
Third Edition

Section Determining if a Given Value is a Solution of an Equation

5.4 Is x  5 a solution of x  12  7 ? Replace the variable with the given value.
5  12  7 Perform the arithmetic.
7  7 See if both sides are equal. x  5 is a solution.
Addition Property of Equality - If the same number is added to both sides of an equation,
the two sides remain equal. If a  b ,
then a + c  b + c.
Solving Equations – find the value of the variable that makes the equation true
How? Use inverse operations to “undo” the operation applied to the variable.
Correct Answer? Check your answer by substituting it in the original problem.

Solving Equations Using the Addition Property of Equality

Solve x  8  14 Determine the operation: Subtraction.
x  8 + 8  14 + 8 Perform the inverse operation: Addition (on both sides).
x  0  22 Do the arithmetic.
x  22 The solution is x  22 .

Section Multiplication Property of Equality - If both sides of an equation are multiplied by the
5.5 same number, the two sides remain equal.
If a  b,
then a c  b c.
Solving Equations Using the Multiplication Property of Equality
Solve 8x  96 Determine the operation: Multiplication.
8 x 96
 Perform the inverse operation: Division (on both sides).
8 8
1x  12 Do the arithmetic.
x  12 The solution is x  12 .

Section Solving Equations Using Both the Addition and Multiplication Properties of Equality
5.6 5x  2 x  2  8  20 Solve.
7 x  2  12 Combine like terms on each side of the equation.
7 x  2 - 2  12 - 2 Get the variable term alone on one side of the equation.
7 x 14 Perform the inverse operation. (Inverse of Addition is Subtraction)

7 7 Get the variable alone on one side of the equation.
x  2
Perform the inverse operation. (Inverse of Multiplication is Division)

Section Translating English Sentences into Mathematical Equations

5.7 The sum of a number and 15 is 21. 1. Read carefully. What are you asked to find?
Let x = the number 2. Select a variable to represent the unknown.
x  15  21 3. Translate the words into an algebraic equation.
x  15 - 15  21 - 15 4. Solve the equation using inverse operations.
x6 5. Simplify. (Remember to check your answer.)

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 CHAPTER 5

Chapter Review
Simplify by combining like terms. Solve each equation.
1. 7 x  3x  8  2 15. a  4  8
2. 4a  6a  5b  b 16. x  5.9  13.7
1 1 3 1 17. x 1  8  3  2
3. x x 
8 3 5 4 1 2
18. y 
3 5
Evaluate each expression. 19. 4 x  16
20. 42a  6
4. 2  x  9  if x  6 21. 0.4 x  4.8
5. x3  4 if x  4 22.  x  10
2
6. 2a  9b if a  
1
and b 
2 23. x  10
2 3 5
x
24.  2.4
7.1
Distribute.
25. 8x  2  6
7. 6(8a  4) 26. 18.2  x  1.4
8. 3.9( x  1.2) 27. 2 x  4  2  14
1 6  28. 7  3x  8 x  2  5
9.   x  40  29. 2(3x  2)  x  16
2 5 
2 7
30.  a
9 9
Complete using the property given. 1 3
31. x 6
10. 8x   8x Identity 8 4
11. 3a 1  Inverse
Translate each into a math equation. Then
solve the equation.
Use the property given to rewrite and
simplify the expression 32. If four times a number is
decreased by five, the result is 31.
12. 8  5x  3 Commutative Determine the number.
1 
13. 4   a  Associative 33. Two more than the product of 3
4  and a number is –10. Determine
the number.
34. The sum of three times a number
Answer yes or no.
and 20 is 11. Determine the
14. Is x  8 a solution of the equation number.
15  24  x ? 35. Seven-tenths of a number is 5.6.
Determine the number.
CCBC Math 081 Chapter 5 Review
Third Edition

Mixed Review
36. Compute 25  8  (3)  (14  6)
37. Compute 31.09  (28.63  75.8)
38. Convert 0.78 g to mg.
39. Convert 12500 seconds to hours.
40. Write 4.06 as a fraction in simplest form.
1
41. Write as a decimal and round to the hundredths place.
12
1 3
42. Compute 4  1
6 8
5 2
43. Compute 5  6
8 5
2
 2  14
44. Compute   
 3  15
45. Determine the mean for the following values: 23, –45, 62, –73, –89
46. The players’ batting averages are 0.235, 0.312, 0.215, 0.297, 0.310, and 0.233.
Determine the median.
47. There are 6 samples of bacteria each weighing 3 3 grams. What is the total weight of
4
all 6 samples?
48. Determine the perimeter of the rectangle.

49. Determine the area of the triangle.

4.3 in 3.9 in
2.6 in

8.7 in
22
50. Determine the circumference of the circle. Use   .
7

423
CCBC Math 081 Chapter 5 Review
Third Edition

Chapter 5 Review Answers

1. 4x  6 28. x2
2. 2a  6b 29. x4
11 7 30. a 1
3. x
24 20 31. x  54
4. 6 32. 4n  5  31
5. –60 n9
6. –7 33. 2  3n  10
n  4
7. 48a  24 34. 3n  20  11
8. 3.9 x  4.68 n  3
3 35. 0.7n  5.6
9.  x  20 n 8
5
36. –8
10. 8x  0  8x 37. –16.08
11. 3a 1  3a 38. 780 mg
5x  8  3  5x  11 125 17
12. 39. hrs  3 hrs
36 36
 1
13.  4    a  1 a  a 203
4
3
 4 40.
50 50
14. No 41. 0.08
15. a  4 19
16. x  7.8
42. 2
24
17. x  12 43. 36
11 10
18. y 44.
15 21
19. x  4 45. 24
2
OR 24.4
1 5
20. a 46. 0.266
7
21. x  12 47.
45 1
g  22 g
22. x  10 2 2
x  25 13 1
23. 48. cm  3 cm
4 4
24. x  17.04 2
49. 11.31 in
25. x 1
352 2
26. x  16.8 50. m  50 m
7 7
27. x6

424