Study Guide and Notes: Variables and Expressions

A variable is a symbol, usually a letter, used to represent an unspecified number. It is used in to translate
verbal expressions into algebraic expressions or formulae. Math symbols are used to indicate what type of
computation to do. Here are some examples of expressions using mathematical operations and variables:
Addition:
4 plus a number
5 more than a number
A number increased by 3
The sum of a number and 2

Subtraction:
4+x
x+5
x+3
x+2

The difference of a and b

3 less than a number
A number decreased by 8
A number less 6

Multiplication:
The product of a and b
5 times a number
Twice a number

Division:
ab
5x
2x

ab
x3
x8
x-6

Exponents:

The quotient of a and b

A number divided by 8
The ratio of x and y

ab
x8
x y

The square of a number

The cube of a number
A number raised to the 5th power

x2
x3
x5

Write a variable expression the the algebraic expression.

1. 3x + 7

2. x 9

3. x2 2x

4.

a
2b

Write an algebraic expression for the variable expression.

5. twice a number increased by 5
6. the sum of a number and 6

7. the quotient of 8 and x

8. 9 less than a number

9. the square of a number decreased by 3

10. the difference of x and x squared

Note the similarities and the differences in the following expressions

11. the sum of twice x and y
12. twice the sum of x and y
13. 4 times the difference of a and b

14. the difference of 4 times a and b

Write the expression using exponents.

15. 9 to the third power
16. 8 8 8 8

17. 5 b b c c c

Evaluate the expression. Use the calculator keystrokes shown to check your work after you work the
problem.

18. 34

19. 53

20. 107

Homework: Variables and Expressions

I. Indicate with math symbols what operations are being described by the given word(s). Use
, -, x, or symbols.

1. sum _____

2. product _______

3. decreased by ______

4. quotient _______

5. increased by _____

6. difference _________

7. more than ______

8. less than _______

9. twice something ______

II. Write a verbal expression for the algebraic expression.

10. ab

11. x + 7

12. 2x

13. m3

14. x 6

15. 8y2

x
y

17. (x + y)

18. 3x 4

19. 5(a b)

16.

III. Write an algebraic expression to the given verbal expression.

20. eight less than a number

21. a number increased by seven

22. the quotient of m and n

23. a number squared

24. nine times a number

25. a number decreased by three

26. seven more than the cube of a number

27. one-half the product of x and y

28. the product of twice a and b

29. twice the product of a and b

30. two less than five times a number

31. twice a number increased by three times the number

32. the sum of 3 times a and b

33. three times the sum of a and b

34. the cube of a plus b

35. the cube of the sum of a and b

Name _____________________________

Class _______

Solving(2*Step(Equation(Word(Problems(

TRANSLATING KEY WORDS AND PHRASES INTO ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Do(Now:(!
Nick opens a savings account with $50. Each week after, he deposits $15. In how
The table below lists some key words and phrases that are used to describe common mathematical operations. To write
many
weeks will
he have assign
saveda$500?
an algebraic
and
solve
algebraic
expressions
and equations,
variable[Write
to represent
the unknown equation
number. In the
table
below, the letter
the problem]
Show
ALL In
Your
Work
x is used
to represent the
unknown.
translation
problems, the words sum, total, difference, product and quotient
imply at
use parentheses
when
a AND
sum P
orHRASES
difference
example, the phrase "the sum of
KEY W
ORDS
INTOisAmultiplied.
LGEBRAIC For
EXPRESSIONS
! least two partsTRANSLATING
three times a number and five" translates to "3x + 5," while the phrase "three times the sum of a number and five"
! to "3(x + 5)."
translates
The table below
lists some key words and phrases that are used to describe common mathematical operations. To write
! expressions and equations, assign a variable to represent the unknown number. In the table below, the letter
algebraic
!
x is used
to represent the unknown. In translation problems, the words sum, total, difference, product and quotient
OPERATION
KEY WORD/PHRASE
EXAMPLE
TRANSLATION
imply at
! least two parts use parentheses when a sum or difference is multiplied. For example, the phrase "the sum of
three times a number and five" translates to "3x + 5," while the phrase "three times the sum of a number and five"
plus
A number plus three
x+3
Addition ( + )
translates to "3(x + 5)."
more than
Ten more than a number
x + 10
the
of/PHRASE
KEYsum
WORD

The
sum of a number and five
EXAMPLE

the total of
plus
increased by
more than
added to
the sum of
minus
the total of
less than
increased by
the difference of
added to
less
minus
decreased by
less than
subtracted from
the difference of
times
less
the product of
decreased by
twice; double
subtracted from
multiplied by
times

The total of six and some number

A number plus three
A number increased by two
Ten more than a number
Eleven added to a number
The sum of a number and five
A number minus seven
The total of six and some number
Four less than a number
A number increased by two
The difference of a number and three
Eleven added to a number
Nine less a number
A number minus seven
A number decreased by twelve
Four less than a number
Six subtracted from a number
The difference of a number and three
Eight times a number
Nine less a number
The product of fourteen and a number
A number decreased by twelve
Twice a number; double a number
Six subtracted from a number
A number multiplied by negative six
Eight times a number

6+x
x+3
x+2
x + 10
x + 11
x+5
X7
6+x
X4
x+2
X3
x + 11
9X
X7
X 12
X4
X6
X3
8x
9X
14x
X 12
2x
X6
6x
8x

of
the product of

Three
fourthsofoffourteen
a number
The product
and a number

x
14x

twice; double
the
quotient
multiplied
by of

Twice a number; double a number

The
quotient
of a number
and seven
A number
multiplied
by negative
six

of
divided
by

Three
fourths
number
Ten
divided
byofaanumber

Division ( )

the ratio
quotient
the
of of

The ratio
quotient
a number
and seven
The
of aof
number
to fifteen

Powers ( xn )

the
square
divided
by of;
squared

Ten square
divided of
byaanumber;
number a number squared
The

the cube
ratio of
the
of; cubed

The cube
ratio of
The
of aa number
number;toa fifteen
number cubed

the square of;

equals
squared
is

Seven
less than
a numbera equals
The square
of a number;
numberten.
squared
Three times a number is negative six.

is
same
thethe
cube
of; as
cubed

Eight
is the
as twice
a number.
The cube
of same
a number;
a number
cubed

8 =x32x

yields
equals
amounts to
is

Twelve added to a number yields five.

Seven less than a number equals ten.
Nine less a number amounts to twenty.
Three times a number is negative six.

x + 12 = 5
x 7 = 10
9 x = 20
3x = 6

is the same as

Eight is the same as twice a number.

OPERATION
Addition ( + )

Subtraction (

Subtraction (

Multiplication ( x )

Multiplication ( x )

Division ( )

Equals
Powers ((=x)n )

Equals ( = )

x+5
TRANSLATION

2x
x

6x

7
3
10x
4x

xx
7
15
10

x2
x

x3

15

7x2= 10
3x = 6

8 = 2x

Name _____________________________

Class _______

Guided Practice
Steps to solving two-step word problems:
1. Read the problem carefully. Underline any key information.
2. Write a let statement.
3. Write an equation.
4. Solve the equation.
5. Check your answer

Example 1:
Nick opens a savings account with $50. Each week after, he deposits $15. In how
many weeks will he have saved $500?
Step 1: Underline any key information
Step 2: Write a let statement. What does our variable represent?

Step 3: Write an equation:

Step 4: Solve the equation:

Step 5: Re-read the question. Does your answer make sense?

Example 2:
Alex rents a car for one day. The charge is $18 plus $0.12 per mile. Alex wants to
spend exactly $30. How many miles can he drive?
Step 1: Underline any key information
Step 2: Write a let statement. What does our variable represent?

Step 3: Write an equation:

Name _____________________________
Step 4: Solve the equation:

Class _______

Step 5: Re-read the question. Does your answer make sense?

Example 3:
Katie wants to buy a bicycle that costs $129. This is $24 more than 3 times what
she saved last month. How much did she save last month?

Name _____________________________

Class _______

Solving(2*Step(Equation(Word(Problems(
Classwork(
Independent Practice:
1. Ben rents a car for one day. The charge is $20 plus the $0.12 per mile. He wants to spend
exactly $80. How many miles can he drive?

2. When 12 is subtracted from 3 times a number, the result is 24. Find the number.

3. Jill made 20 muffins. She put them into 3 boxes and has two muffins left. How many are in
each box if they all contain the same amount of muffins?

Name _____________________________
Class _______
4. If you multiply a number by 3 and then subtract 5, you will get 40. What is the number?

5. Joe went to the hobby shop and bought 2 model sports cars at $8.95 each and some paints. If he
spent a total of $23.65, what was the cost of the paints?

6. Ryan made a $3000 down payment on a car. The total cost of the car was $7500. He made 36
equal monthly payments to pay the car in full. How much did Ryan pay per month?

7. Kendra is buying bottled water for a class trip. She has 16 bottles left over from the last trip.
She buys bottles by the case to get a good price. Each case holds 24 bottles. How many cases will
she have to buy if she wants to have a total of 160 bottles of water?

Name _____________________________

Class _______

Solving(2*Step(Equation(Word(Problems(
Homework(

_____ 1) Which of the following refers to the operation of addition?

(1) product

(3) more than

(2) less than

(4) quotient

_____ 2) Which of the following refers to the operation of division?

(1) product

(3) more than

(2) less than

(4) quotient

_____ 3) Five less than twelve times a number is represented by:

(1) 12n 5

(3) 12 n 5

(2) 12n5

(4) 5 12n

_____ 4) Which of the following represents three times a number minus 5?

3
5
x

(3) 3x 5

(2) 5x 3

(4) 3 5x

(1)

For 5 - 8, solve the equation for x. Clearly show ALL of your work.
5) 7 + 4x = 67

6) 0.7x 3.2 = 1.7

Name _____________________________
3x
7)
= 6
5

8) 10 5x = 35

Class _______

For 9-10, set up and solve a mathematical equation to determine your solution.
BE SURE TO SHOW ALL OF YOUR WORK.
9) Scott wants to buy a scooter that costs $129. This is $24 more than 3 times what he saved last
month. How much did he save last month?

10) Miss Violet is buying granola bars for her students. She already has 16 granola bars in her desk and
needs a total of 100 bars. They are sold in packs of 12. How many more boxes of granola bars does she
need to purchase for her students?

PERIMETER PROBLEM EXERCISES

1.

The perimeter of a rectangle is 52 feet. The length of the rectangle is 10 feet longer than the
width. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

2.

The length of a rectangle is three times its width, and its perimeter is 88 inches. Find its length
and width.

3.

The width of a rectangle is 12 centimeters less than its length, and its perimeter is 48
centimeters. Find the dimensions.

4.

The length of a rectangle is four feet more than twice the width. If the perimeter is 110 feet,
find the length and the width.

5.

The length of a rectangle is three feet less than two times the width. The perimeter is 27 feet.
Find the dimensions.

6.

One side of a triangle is twice another side. The third side is eight centimeters and the
perimeter is 26 centimeters. How long is each side?

7.

The longest side of a triangle is five meters more than the second side. The shortest side is two
meters less than the second side. If the perimeter of the triangle is 24 meters, find the length of
the shortest side.

8.

The perimeter of a triangle is 58 meters. The longest side is three times the shortest side. The
other side is five meters shorter than the longest side. How long is each side?

9.

A rectangle is formed by placing two equal squares side by side. If the perimeter of the
rectangle is 30 inches, how long is a side of each square?

10.

The perimeter of an equilateral triangle (a triangle whose sides have the same length) is 28
inches more than the length of a side. Find the length of a side.

11.

One side of a triangle is six meters less than the second side and twice the length of the third
side. If the perimeter is 106 meters, find the length of the three sides.

12.

The longest side of a triangle is 12 inches longer than the shortest side. The other side is five
inches shorter than the longest side. If the perimeter is 61 inches, find the length of each side.

13.

One side of a triangle is three feet longer than another, and the third side is four feet less than
the sum of the first two. If the perimeter is 54 feet, find the lengths of the sides.

14.

The length of a rectangle is three feet more than twice the width. If the width is increased by
four feet, the perimeter of the new rectangle is 68 feet. Find the dimensions of the original
rectangle.

Revised 03/09