In this lesson we will learn how to translate a verbal phrase into two-step verbal expressions.

In the language of algebra we use letters to represent the unknowns (variables) and symbols to represent the operations.

Verbal Phrases Involving Addition
7 + 8 is the translation of the sum of 7 and 8
x + y is the translation of the sum of x and y

Verbal Phrases Involving Subtraction
6 - 3 is the translation of the difference of 6 and 3
a - b is the translation of the difference of a and b

Verbal Phrases Involving Multiplication
4 • 6 is the translation of the product of 4 and 6
xy is the translation of the product of x and y

Verbal Phrases Involving Division
8÷4 or 8/4 is the translation of the quotient of 8 and 4
x÷y or x/y is the translation of the quotient of x and y

Let's look at some more difficult examples:

Verbal Phrase                             Algebraic Language

 4 more than x                                 x + 4
 8 less than m                                  m - 8
 the product of 5 and x                        5x
 y divided by 6                                y/6
 two times z increased by x                    2z + x
 4 times y, decreased by 3 times x            4y - 3x
 the sum of 6 times x, and 7                  6x + 7