Translating word problems
Most "word problem" pain comes from skipping the translation step. Slow down and convert each phrase into a piece of algebra.
| English | Algebra |
|---|---|
| "five more than x" | x + 5 |
| "twice a number" | 2n |
| "the sum of x and y" | x + y |
| "is" / "equals" | = |
| "% of" | multiply by the decimal |
Example
A pizza costs
$8plus$2per topping. Maya paid$16. How many toppings did she order?
Translate: 8 + 2t = 16. Solve: t = 4.
That is the entire skill: read, translate, solve, sanity check.