Rev Math 1 Con 1

In this case, the letter x is a variable that represents the number 3.
Example 2: Take a look at the expression x + y + z + 3. What are the variables in

the expression?
Solution: x, y, and z are the variables used in the expression x + y + z.
x, y, and z represent certain quantities or numbers.
Since a variable represents certain quantities or values, this means that the value
of a variable is not fixed. For instance, in x + y + z, the values of x, y, and z
can be any number.
In the study of algebra, English letters are the most commonly used variables.
Thus, in this reviewer, we will use letters to denote a variable that represents a
certain value.
2. Constants
A constant is a quantity with a fixed value. This means that the value of a
constant does not change in the expression. For example, 3 is a constant since its
value is always equivalent to 3 and it never changes once you include it in a
mathematical expression.
It is important to note that all numbers are constants.
For example, in the expression x + 5, 5 is a constant because its value is always 5

in that expression and it will never change. However, x is not a constant since its
value is not fixed and specified and can be any number.
3. Coefficients
If you multiply a variable by a certain number, the latter is called a numerical
coefficient. Meanwhile, the variable becomes a literal coefficient.
Suppose we have a variable x which represents a certain quantity.
Now, our variable x is multiplied by 2. Thus, we have 2 × x.
In algebra, when we multiply a variable by a certain number, we refrain from using

the arithmetic sign for multiplication (×). Instead, we just put the variable and
the constant together.
Therefore, when we multiply x by 2, we write it as 2x instead of 2 × x.
Now, take a look at 2x. 2 is a numerical coefficient since it is the number that is
multiplied by a variable. Meanwhile, x is a literal coefficient since it is a
variable multiplied by a number.
Example 1: Determine the numerical coefficient and literal coefficient in ¼ y.
Solution: The numerical coefficient is ¼ since it is the number multiplied by the

variable y. Meanwhile, y is the literal coefficient since it is a variable
multiplied by a number.
If a variable has no number written on its left, it means the numerical coefficient
is 1. For instance, consider the variable x. Note that there is no number written
on its left. This does not mean that it has no numerical coefficient. Instead, its
numerical coefficient is 1. Thus, x can also be interpreted as 1x or “1 times x”.
However, in algebra, if the numerical coefficient is 1, we do not write it because

it is already understood that a certain variable has a numerical coefficient of 1.
Example 2: Determine the numerical coefficient of the following:
3y
0.23x
w
Solution: For item 1, the numerical coefficient is 3. For item 2, the numerical
coefficient is 0.23. Lastly, for item 3, the numerical coefficient is 1.
Algebraic Expression
An algebraic expression is a mathematical expression that involves constants,
variables, and arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or
division).
For example, x + 5 is an algebraic expression since it has a variable (which is x)

that represents a certain quantity, a constant (which is 5), and an arithmetic
operation (addition).
algebraic expressions 4
Another example, 3x – 9 is an algebraic expression where x is a variable, 9 is a

constant, and the mathematical operations involved are multiplication (because 3x
represents “3 times x”) and subtraction. Also, 3 is a numerical coefficient of x.
Example 1: Determine the variables, constant, coefficient, and operations involved

in 9 + 3xy – z.
Solution: The variables are x, y, and z. The constant is 9. Meanwhile, the

operations involved are addition, multiplication (3xy can be interpreted as 3 times
x times y), and subtraction. Furthermore, 3 is a numerical coefficient of xy.
Example 2: Determine the variables, constants, and operations involved in the

algebraic expression x⁄y – 2.
Solution: Before we answer this, take note that in algebra, we usually indicate
division as the ratio or a fraction between two numbers. Therefore, if we want to
write x ÷ y, we write it as x/y instead.
Therefore, in x/y – 2, the variables are x and y, the constant is 2, and the
operations involved are division and subtraction.
Translating Verbal Expressions into Algebraic Expressions

You have already learned what algebraic expressions are. In this section, you are
going to learn how to write an algebraic expression from a given English sentence
or phrase. This skill is crucial since you are going to solve some word problems in
the succeeding chapters.
Let us start with this: Write “7 plus 4 equals 11” into a mathematical expression.
I know that you can translate that one with ease. The sentence “7 plus 4 equals 11”
is simply: 7 + 4 = 11.
This is exactly what we are going to do in this section: We will translate a

sentence or phrase into a mathematical expression. But this time, we will be using
variables and constants.
Having said that, let us try to translate this sentence into a mathematical
expression:
“A number plus 4 equals 11”
The given sentence is actually the same as the previous example above except for
one thing. Notice that instead of stating 7, we replace it with the words “a
number”. How can we translate the given sentence into a mathematical expression?
Let’s find out the answer.
The word “a number” implies that we are not sure what exactly that number is. In
other words, that number is unknown. For this reason, we need to use a variable
that will represent this unknown number.
Recall that a variable is any symbol or letter that can represent an unknown
number. Let us use the letter x to represent that unknown number in the given
sentence.
Thus, we can translate the given sentence: “A number plus 4 equals 11” as:
x + 4 = 11
And we’re done! We have already translated a verbal expression into an algebraic
expression.
Example 1: Translate this verbal expression into an algebraic expression: “18 minus
a number equals 5”.
Solution: The phrase “a number” means that we are not sure what that number is.
This means that we need to represent it using a letter or symbol. In other words,
we need to use a variable to represent that unknown number.
Let us use the letter g to represent this unknown number. Thus, if we translate “18
minus a number is 5” into an algebraic expression, we will obtain:
18 – g = 5
Keep in mind that you can use any letter in the English alphabet as a variable to
represent a certain number. However, the most commonly used letters are x and y.
Furthermore, small letters are more commonly used than capital letters.
You now have an idea of how to use variables to translate a verbal expression into
algebraic expressions. However, in your study of algebra, you will encounter
complicated sentences that are quite challenging to convert into algebraic
expressions. For this reason, you need the help of keywords.
Keywords for Mathematical Operations

Keywords are certain words in a verbal expression that tells you what mathematical
operations are involved in that sentence. They serve as your signals so that you
can put the proper operations in the corresponding algebraic expression.
For instance, in our earlier example, “A number plus 4 equals 11”, the word “plus”
is the keyword. It gives you a signal that you must use the addition sign (+) when
you convert the given sentence into an algebraic expression.
We are going to tackle in this section some keywords that indicate the four
fundamental mathematical operations.
1. Keywords for Addition

Some common keywords for addition are sum, plus, increased by, more than, and
total. Once you see these keywords, it means that addition will be involved when
you translate the verbal expression into an algebraic expression.
The table below shows how these keywords are usually used in a sentence and how
they can be translated into algebraic expressions.
Keyword Example (Verbal Expression) Algebraic Expression

sum The sum of 8 and a number 8 + x
plus -6 plus a number -6 + x
increased by A number increased by 7 x + 7
more than 3 more than a number x + 3
total The total of a number and -10 x + (-10)
The keywords sum and total are written before the given numbers. When you see these
words, it means that the numbers are added. For example, the sentence “The sum of 8
and a number” implies that 8 and a certain number was added. Thus, the correct
translation must be 8 + x.
The keyword increased by means that a certain number was added to another number.
For instance, the sentence “A number increased by 7” means that 7 was added to a
certain number. Thus, the correct translation must be x + 7.
Meanwhile, the keyword more than means the first number stated is added to the
second number. For instance, the sentence “3 more than a number” implies that 3 was
added to a certain number. Thus, when we translate it into an algebraic expression,
we write 3 as the second addend since it is being added to a certain number. The
correct translation should be x + 3.
Example 1: Translate “the sum of two numbers” into an algebraic expression.
Solution: The given sentence doesn’t explicitly state the values of two numbers.
Thus, we need to use variables to represent them. Let us use the letters x and y
to represent the numbers.
Since we have the keyword “sum”, it means that the numbers must be added.
Thus, the sentence can be translated as x + y
The answer is x + y

Rev Math 1 Con 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rev Math 1 Con 1

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rev Math 1 Con 1

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

In this case, the letter x is a variable that represents the number 3.

Example 2: Take a look at the expression x + y + z + 3. What are the variables in

Solution: x, y, and z are the variables used in the expression x + y + z.

x, y, and z represent certain quantities or numbers.

It is important to note that all numbers are constants.

For example, in the expression x + 5, 5 is a constant because its value is always 5

Suppose we have a variable x which represents a certain quantity.

Now, our variable x is multiplied by 2. Thus, we have 2 × x.

In algebra, when we multiply a variable by a certain number, we refrain from using

Therefore, when we multiply x by 2, we write it as 2x instead of 2 × x.

Example 1: Determine the numerical coefficient and literal coefficient in ¼ y.

Solution: The numerical coefficient is ¼ since it is the number multiplied by the

However, in algebra, if the numerical coefficient is 1, we do not write it because

Example 2: Determine the numerical coefficient of the following:

For example, x + 5 is an algebraic expression since it has a variable (which is x)

Another example, 3x – 9 is an algebraic expression where x is a variable, 9 is a

Example 1: Determine the variables, constant, coefficient, and operations involved

Solution: The variables are x, y, and z. The constant is 9. Meanwhile, the

Example 2: Determine the variables, constants, and operations involved in the

Translating Verbal Expressions into Algebraic Expressions

This is exactly what we are going to do in this section: We will translate a

“A number plus 4 equals 11”

Let’s find out the answer.

Keywords for Mathematical Operations

1. Keywords for Addition

Keyword Example (Verbal Expression) Algebraic Expression

Example 1: Translate “the sum of two numbers” into an algebraic expression.

Thus, the sentence can be translated as x + y

You might also like