NAME: ______________________________________________

ACTIVITY 1
THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS

A. Translate each of the following phrases into mathematical expressions/sentences. Use as few variables
as possible.
1. The sum of a number and 10
2. The product of two numbers
3. The product of -1 and a number
4. One-half times the sum of two numbers
5. Twice a number
6. Five less than a number
7. A number, less 8
8. Six more than a number
9. A number, plus 6
10. The square of a number
11. Four times the square of a number
12. One-half of a number is 5.
13. Three less than twice a number.
14. Five more than three times a number
15. The square of the sum of 5 and a number
16. The sum of the squares of two numbers is 25
17. There are twice as many boys (b) as there are girls (g)
18. There are 10 more cars (c) than jeeps (j)
19. A man’s age (a) 10 years ago is 43.
20. The area (A) of a rectangle whose length (l) is 7 more than the width (w)
B. Complete the table below.
Symbol Say Means Example

Example:

% Percent Represents a quantity out of 100 32/100 = 32%

1. f(x)

2. logax

3. √x

4. |x-y|

5. P(x,y)
NAME: _______________________________________________
C. Choose a quantity to be represented by a variable, then write a mathematical expression for each.

1. Lota’s age in 5 years.

2. A three-digit number whose hundred digits is half the tens digit and the tens digit is 2 more than the units
digit.

3. The total interest earned after one year when P100 000 is invested, as part at 6% annual interest rate and
the remaining part at 7.5% annual interest rate.

4. The distance travelled by a man driving at the rate of 60 kph.

5. The total distance travelled by a boat 1 hour upstream and 30 minutes downstream in which the rate of
current is 3 kph.

6. The fraction of work done by a man who can finish a job in 2 hours.

7. The percentage of alcohol in a mixture of ¾ liter of pure water and x liters of 8% alcohol solution.

8. The total peso value of 20 coins consisting of P5-coins and P10-coins.

9. The perimeter of a rectangle whose length is twice the width.

10. The sum of three consecutive even integers.