NAME: _____________________________________________

MATHEMATICS 6

Keywords for Mathematical Operations

*Week 4

The first step in solving a word problem is always to read the problem. You need to be able to translate words into
mathematical symbols, focusing on keywords that indicate the mathematical procedures required to solve the
problem—both the operation and the order of the expression. In much the same way that you can translate Spanish
into English, you can translate English words into symbols, the language of mathematics. Many (if not all) keywords
that indicate mathematical operations are familiar words.

In translating expressions, you want to be well acquainted with basic keywords that translate into mathematical
operations: addition keywords, subtraction keywords, multiplication keywords, and division keywords, which are
covered in the four following sections.

Addition keywords

Some common examples of addition keywords are as follows:

SUM OF_____ AND _____

TOTAL OF _____ AND _____

_____ PLUS _____

_____ INCREASED BY _____

GAIN

RAISE

MORE

INCREASE OF

The first two keywords (SUM and TOTAL) are called leading keywords because they lead the expression. The second
two keywords (PLUS and INCREASED BY) are keywords that indicate the exact placement of the plus sign. The last
four keywords can be found in word problems and may indicate addition.

When an expression begins with the leading keywords SUM or TOTAL, the leading keyword defines the
corresponding AND. The plus sign then physically replaces the AND in the expression.

Example 1: Translate the following: the sum of five and a number

The following steps help you translate this problem:

1. Underline the words before and after AND when it corresponds to the leading keyword SUM OF.

the sum of five and a number

2. Circle the leading keyword and indicate the corresponding AND that it defines.

3. Translate each underlined expression and replace AND with a plus sign.

The expression translates to 5 + x.

Use the following steps to translate this problem:

1. The keyword TOTAL OF is a leading keyword that defines AND, so underline the words before and after AND: “a
number” and “negative three.”

the total of a number and negative three

2. Circle the leading keyword and indicate the corresponding AND that it defines.

3. Translate each underlined expression and replace AND with a plus sign.

The expression translates to x + −3.

Example 3: Translate the following: the sum of seven and negative four

Translate this example in the following way:

1. The word SUM OF is a leading keyword that defines AND, so underline the words before and after AND: “seven”
and “negative four.”

the sum of seven and negative four

2. Circle the leading keyword and indicate the corresponding AND that it defines.

3. Translate each underlined expression and replace AND with a plus sign.

The expression translates to 7 + −4.

Reminder: The AND keyword translates to mean “plus” because the leading keyword is SUM OF. With other leading
keywords (discussed in the following sections), AND can mean other things. Also notice that you do not simplify the
expression and get “3” for the answer because you are just translating words into symbols and not performing the
math.

Example 4: Translate the following: a number increased by twenty‐four

The expression translates to x + 24.

Some additional keywords, such as GAIN, MORE, INCREASE OF, and RAISE, are commonly found in story problems, as
in Example 5.

Example 5: Translate the following story problem into a mathematical expression about the weight of the
linebacker: The defensive linebacker weighed two hundred twenty‐two pounds at the beginning of spring training.
He had a gain of seventeen pounds after working out with the team for four weeks.

The expression translates to 222 + 17.

Note: Not all numbers mentioned in a word problem should be included in the mathematical expression. The
number “four” is just interesting fact, but it is not information you need in order to write an expression about the
linebacker's weight.

You may also be wondering why the answer isn't 239 pounds. That's because the question asks you to translate the
story problem into a mathematical expression, not to evaluate the expression.

Exercise 1: Translate the following word problem into a mathematical expression about the cashier's current hourly
wage: A cashier at the corner grocery was earning $6.25 an hour. He received a raise of 25 cents an hour.
Answer: ________________________________________________________

Subtraction keywords

Subtraction keywords also include leading keywords, keywords that can be translated one word at a time, and
keywords that are found in story problems. Look at the following list of subtraction keywords:

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN _____ AND _____

_____ MINUS _____

_____ DECREASED BY _____

LOSS

LESS

FEWER

TAKE AWAY

One subtraction keyword (DIFFERENCE BETWEEN) is a two‐part expression that begins with a leading keyword that
defines the corresponding AND. You can use the same methods of underlining and circling the keywords shown in
the preceding section to translate these expressions.

Example 6: Translate the following: the difference between four and six

Here is how you translate Example 7:

1. Because the keyword DIFFERENCE BETWEEN is a leading keyword that defines the corresponding AND,
underline the words before and after AND: “four” and “six.”

the difference between four and six

2. Circle the leading keyword and indicate the corresponding AND that it defines.

3. Translate each underlined expression and replace AND with a minus sign.

The expression translates to 4 – 6.

Note: AND is not always translated to mean addition. Here, the DIFFERENCE BETWEEN is the leading keyword that
defines the AND to mean subtraction.

Other subtraction keywords, such as MINUS and DECREASED BY, use the direct translation strategy. Example 8 is a
subtraction word problem that is translated one keyword at a time, in the exact order of the expression.

Exercise 2: Translate the following: twenty‐four decreased by a number.

Answer: _______________________________________________________________

In a story problem, you may find the subtraction keywords LOSS, LESS, FEWER, and TAKE AWAY, as shown in
Example 9.

Exercise 3: Translate the following word problem into a mathematical expression about the current value of
materials at the job site: A construction company stored $1,253 worth of materials at the job site. The company
suffered a loss of $300 due to storm damage.

Answer: _______________________________________________________________
NAME: _____________________________________________

MATHEMATICS 6

Keywords for Mathematical Operations

Multiplication keywords

Some common examples of multiplication keywords are as follows:

MULTIPLY _____ BY _____

PRODUCT OF _____ AND _____

_____ TIMES _____

DOUBLE _____

TWICE _____

TRIPLE _____

PERCENT OF _____

FRACTION OF _____

For two of the multiplication keywords, MULTIPLY and PRODUCT OF, a leading keyword defines the corresponding
BY or AND, as shown in Example 10.

Example 1: Translate the following: the product of seven and a number

Translate this example in the following way:

1. Because PRODUCT OF is a leading keyword that corresponds to AND, underline the words before and after
AND: “seven” and “a number.”

the product of seven and a number

2. Circle the leading keyword and indicate the corresponding AND that it defines.

3. Translate each underlined expression and replace AND with a times sign.

The expression translates to 7 × x.

Note: Keep in mind that AND does not always indicate addition. The keyword PRODUCT OF defines the AND in this
expression to mean multiplication.

Exercise 1: Translate the following: a number times fifteen

Answer: _______________________________________________________________

Some multiplication keywords, such as DOUBLE, TWICE, and TRIPLE, translate into a number and the operation of
multiplication, as shown in Examples 12 and 13.

Exercise 2: Translate the following: twice a number

Answer: _______________________________________________________________

Example 2: Translate the following word problem into a mathematical expression: Jennifer had $15 dollars in the
bank. Over the next two weeks she doubled her money.
The expression translates to 2 × 15.

One of the keywords that indicates multiplication is OF. In word problems, however, you may see more than one use
of the word “of.” The only OF that indicates multiplication is the one that follows the keyword PERCENT, the percent
sign, the keyword FRACTION, or a fraction. See Examples 14 and 15.

Example 3: Translate the following: twenty five percent of four hundred dollars

The expression translates to 0.25 × 400.

Note: Remember that a percent is changed to a decimal before multiplying.

Example 4: Translate the following: one‐third of twenty‐seven

The expression translates to  .

Exercise 3: Translate the following: one-half of 20.

Answer: _______________________________________________________________

Exercise 4: Translate the following: fifteen percent of one hundred.

Answer: _______________________________________________________________
NAME: _____________________________________________

MATHEMATICS 6

Keywords for Mathematical Operations

Division keywords

Some common examples of division keywords are as follows:

QUOTIENT OF _____ AND _____

DIVIDE _____ BY _____

_____ DIVIDED BY _____

DIVIDED EQUALLY

PER

The keywords PRODUCT OF and QUOTIENT OF are difficult for some people to differentiate. Here is a hint to help
you remember which one indicates division and which one indicates multiplication: QUOTIENT is a “harder” word
than “PRODUCT,” and division is a “harder” operation than multiplication.

Remember: Leading keywords define the corresponding AND or BY to mean divide, usually designated with the
symbol ÷.

Example 1: Translate the following: the quotient of seven and a number

1. Because the keyword QUOTIENT OF is a leading keyword that defines AND, underline the words before and
after AND: “seven” and “a number.”

the quotient of seven and a number

2. Circle the leading keyword and indicate the corresponding AND that it defines.

3. Translate each underlined expression and replace AND with a division sign.

The expression translates to 7 ÷ n.

Note: Here, the keyword QUOTIENT OF defines AND to mean division.

Example 2: Translate the following: a number divided by 16

The expression translates to  .

Exercise 1: Translate the following: the quotient of a number and 7.

Answer: _______________________________________________________________

Exercise 2: Translate the following: two divided by a twenty.

Answer: _______________________________________________________________

Exercise 3: Translate the following: Nicole has 20 cookies. She wants to divide the 20 cookies equally
between 4 friends. How many cookies does each person receive?.

Answer: _______________________________________________________________