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All courses Math Foundations · MF.EQ.1 28 of 60
Translate verbal phrases and short contexts into algebraic expressions.

Translate simple add-subtract phrases

Problem
Translate \(9~\text{less}~\text{than}~n\) into an algebraic expression.
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Hint

Start by identifying the variable: the phrase is about n.

In a phrase with “less than,” the subtraction order is reversed from the word order—the amount after “than” comes first.

Solution walkthrough

01

Identify the reference quantity

\[\text{reference}~\text{quantity}~=~n\]

The phrase describes an amount that is less than n.

02

Interpret less than

\[9~\text{less}~\text{than}~n~\text{means}~\text{subtract}~9~\text{from}~n\]

With less than, the quantity after than comes first in the subtraction.

03

Write the expression

\[n~-~9\]

Subtracting nine from n translates the phrase exactly.

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Another way

  1. Test n = 20: nine less than 20 is 11, and 20 - 9 gives 11.

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Common mistake

Do not follow the word order and write 9 - n. The phrase means n decreased by 9.

Solution walkthrough video