How Do You Translate Verbal Pre Algebra Problems?
Word problems represent one of the most challenging tasks in math classes of all levels. Numbers and operations that seem clear and simple when presented directly get lost in a jumble of words and phrasing when presented as verbal problems. Even students that excel at mathematical formulas often struggle when it comes to assembling these formulas from verbal math problems. Pre-algebra introduces the idea of variables to represent unknowns and, therefore, students find pre-algebra verbal problems particularly challenging. If there are no variables (letters) specifically stated in the verbal problem, write “let” statements. Pick a letter that you want to represent each unknown and write equals statements to show what you have picked. For instance, write “let a = the number of apples bought.” Determine how many equations you need to write and if you need to use a system of equations. For each unknown in the problem, you will need one equation. For example, if there are two different unkno
