How can a word problem be translated into an algebraic expression?
Any word problem can be broken down into words or word phrases. These individual elements have a counterpart in the language of mathematics. Keep an eye out for obvious addition and subtraction synonyms like “plus,” “the sum,” “the difference between,” and so on. Often the solution required is stated as a question, such as “How many are left?” or “How much did the shoes cost?” The question usually indicates the unknown number that can be represented by a variable. An expression or equation can be created by using the other information given in the word problem. • Why do operations within parentheses have to be done before other operations shown in an expression or equation? The solution to an equation or the simplification of a longer expression can be quite different, depending on the order of operation. At this level, students are only doing parentheses first, and then a left-to-right guide as an order of operations, but later when multiplication and division come into play, the orde
