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English-to-Math Translation

Just like you can translate a foreign language into one you know – like translating Spanish to English – it’s helpful in solving many word problems to translate English to “Math.”

Here is our English-to-Math dictionary:

“what number”

means

x

“percent”

means

divide by 100

“of” and “product”

means

multiply

“less”

means

minus

“sum” or “more than”

means

plus

“quotient”

means

divide

“is”

means

equals

“is to” or “per”

means

divide (ratio) and often a proportion

“twice a number”

means

2x

x increased by 25%”

means

x + 0.25x

Using Variables to Express Relationships

You can use variables to write equations that model the facts stated in a question, then solve the equations. A question may present a word problem and ask you to select the equation or set of equations that best models the situation.

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English-to-Math Translation

Just like you can translate a foreign language into one you know – like translating Spanish to English – it’s helpful in solving many word problems to translate English to “Math.”

Here is our English-to-Math dictionary:

“what number”

means

x

“percent”

means

divide by 100

“of” and “product”

means

multiply

“less”

means

minus

“sum” or “more than”

means

plus

“quotient”

means

divide

“is”

means

equals

“is to” or “per”

means

divide (ratio) and often a proportion

“twice a number”

means

2x

x increased by 25%”

means

x + 0.25x

Using Variables to Express Relationships

You can use variables to write equations that model the facts stated in a question, then solve the equations. A question may present a word problem and ask you to select the equation or set of equations that best models the situation.