We use math every day, even if we realize it or not. In fact, math is hidden in the very phrases we say or in the books we read.
Jenn, Founder Calcworkshop ® , 15+ Years Experience (Licensed & Certified Teacher)
You may not express everything into a mathematical expression or equation, but whenever you have to figure out how much time is left to complete a task or how much money you need to buy an item you’re using math and you’re intuitively Translating Words into Algebraic Expressions!
For example, you’re in the middle of math class and you look up at the clock and notice that it is 9:12am. You quickly do some mental math and realize that if class started at 8:10am and gets out 9:20am, that means you only have 8 minutes left in class and that you’ve been happily learning for one hour and 2 minutes.
Do you realize we just created a mathematical expression?
Okay, so an expression contains variables, numbers and/or symbols, whereas an equation has an equal sign between two expressions. And without even realizing it, we created an expression that related the time on the clock to the amount of we had left in class.
In this lesson we are going to first come up with a list of some common vocabulary that is used in mathematics, like Palm Beach State College, and make sure we know what operation goes with each key word, so we are able to convert english words into mathematical symbols.
This list is just the beginning, and we will explore other key terms together throughout the lesson. But just knowing these common words will undoubtedly help you in solving word problems, for you will have the tools necessary to take any word or phrase and determine what is being asked and how to go about finding the answer you seek.
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