A variable is a symbol used to denote any element of a given set—often a letter used to stand for a number. Variables are used to change verbal expressions into algebraic expressions.
Example 1
Give the algebraic expression.
Verbal Expression
Algebraic Expression
| The sum of a number n and 7 | n + 7 or 7 + n
| The number n diminished by 10 | n – 10
| Seven times the number n | 7 n
| x divided by 4 |
| Five more than the product of 2 and n | 2 n + 5 or 5 + 2 n
| Seven less than the quotient of y and 4 |
- Key words denoting addition:
- | sum | larger than | enlarge
| plus | gain | rise
| more than | increase | grow
| greater than | | - Key words denoting subtraction:
- | difference | smaller than | lower
| minus | fewer than | diminish
| lose | decrease | reduced
| less than | drop | - Key words denoting multiplication:
- | product | times | of
| multiplied by | twice | - Key words denoting division:
- | quotient | ratio
| divided by | half