Problem Set: The Language of Algebra
Using the Language of Algebra
Use Variables and Algebraic Symbols
In the following exercises, translate from algebraic notation to words.-
Answer: 16 minus 9, the difference of sixteen and nine
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Answer: 5 times 6, the product of five and six
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Answer: 28 divided by 4, the quotient of twenty-eight and four
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Answer: x plus 8, the sum of x and eight
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Answer: 2 times 7, the product of two and seven
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Answer: fourteen is less than twenty-one
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Answer: thirty-six is greater than or equal to nineteen
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Answer: 3 times n equals 24, the product of three and n equals twenty-four
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Answer: y minus 1 is greater than 6, the difference of y and one is greater than six
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Answer: 2 is less than or equal to 18 divided by 6; 2 is less than or equal to the quotient of eighteen and six
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Answer: a is not equal to 7 times 4, a is not equal to the product of seven and four
Identify Expressions and Equations
In the following exercises, determine if each is an expression or an equation.-
Answer: equation
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Answer: expression
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Answer: expression
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Answer: equation
Simplify Expressions with Exponents
In the following exercises, write in exponential form.-
Answer: 37
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Answer: x5
Simplify Expressions with Exponents
In the following exercises, write in expanded form.-
Answer: 125
-
Answer: 256
Simplify Expressions Using the Order of Operations
In the following exercises, simplify.-
Answer: 43
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Answer: 55
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Answer: 5
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Answer: 34
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Answer: 58
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Answer: 6
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Answer: 13
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Answer: 4
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Answer: 35
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Answer: 10
-
Answer: 41
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Answer: 81
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Answer: 149
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Answer: 50
Everyday Math
Basketball
In the 2014 NBA playoffs, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat. The table below shows the heights of the starters on each team. Use this table to fill in the appropriate symbol .Spurs | Height | Heat | Height | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tim Duncan | 83" | Rashard Lewis | 82" | |
Boris Diaw | 80" | LeBron James | 80" | |
Kawhi Leonard | 79" | Chris Bosh | 83" | |
Tony Parker | 74" | Dwyane Wade | 76" | |
Danny Green | 78" | Ray Allen | 77" |
- Height of Tim Duncan____Height of Rashard Lewis
- Height of Boris Diaw____Height of LeBron James
- Height of Kawhi Leonard____Height of Chris Bosh
- Height of Tony Parker____Height of Dwyane Wade
- Height of Danny Green____Height of Ray Allen
Elevation
In Colorado there are more than mountains with an elevation of over The table shows the ten tallest. Use this table to fill in the appropriate inequality symbol.Mountain | Elevation |
---|---|
Mt. Elbert | 14,433' |
Mt. Massive | 14,421' |
Mt. Harvard | 14,420' |
Blanca Peak | 14,345' |
La Plata Peak | 14,336' |
Uncompahgre Peak | 14,309' |
Crestone Peak | 14,294' |
Mt. Lincoln | 14,286' |
Grays Peak | 14,270' |
Mt. Antero | 14,269' |
Writing Exercises
Explain the difference between an expression and an equation. [practice-area rows="4"][/practice-area] Why is it important to use the order of operations to simplify an expression? [practice-area rows="4"][/practice-area]Evaluating, Simplifying, and Translating Algebraic Expressions
Evaluate Algebraic Expressions
In the following exercises, evaluate the expression for the given value.-
Answer: 22
-
Answer: 26
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Answer: 144
-
Answer: 32
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Answer: 27
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Answer: 21
-
Answer: 41
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Answer: 9
-
Answer: 225
-
Answer: 73
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Answer: 54
Identify Terms, Coefficients, and Like Terms
In the following exercises, list the terms in the given expression.-
Answer: 15x2, 6x, 2
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Answer: 10y3, y, 2
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Answer: 8
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Answer: 5
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Answer: x3, 8x3 and 14, 5
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Answer: 16ab and 4ab; 16b2 and 9b2
Simplify Expressions by Combining Like Terms
In the following exercises, simplify the given expression by combining like terms.-
Answer: 13x
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Answer: 26a
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Answer: 7c
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Answer: 12x + 8
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Answer: 10u + 3
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Answer: 12p + 10
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Answer: 22a + 1
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Answer: 17x2 + 20x + 16
Translate English Phrases into Algebraic Expressions
In the following exercises, translate the given word phrase into an algebraic expression.- The sum of 8 and 12
Answer: 8 + 12
- The sum of 9 and 1
- The difference of 14 and 9
Answer: 14 − 9
- 8 less than 19
- The product of 9 and 7
Answer: 9 ⋅ 7
- The product of 8 and 7
- The quotient of 36 and 9
Answer: 36 ÷ 9
- The quotient of 42 and 7
- The difference of and
Answer: x − 4
- less than
- The product of and
Answer: 6y
- The product of and
- The sum of and
Answer: 8x + 3x
- The sum of and
- The quotient of and
Answer:
- The quotient of and
- Eight times the difference of and nine
Answer: 8 (y − 9)
- Seven times the difference of and one
- Five times the sum of and
Answer: 5 (x + y)
- Nine times five less than twice
Translate English Phrases into Algebraic Expressions
In the following exercises, write an algebraic expression.- Adele bought a skirt and a blouse. The skirt cost more than the blouse. Let represent the cost of the blouse. Write an expression for the cost of the skirt.
Answer: b + 15
- Eric has rock and classical CDs in his car. The number of rock CDs is more than the number of classical CDs. Let represent the number of classical CDs. Write an expression for the number of rock CDs.
- The number of girls in a second-grade class is less than the number of boys. Let represent the number of boys. Write an expression for the number of girls.
Answer: b − 4
- Marcella has fewer male cousins than female cousins. Let represent the number of female cousins. Write an expression for the number of boy cousins.
- Greg has nickels and pennies in his pocket. The number of pennies is seven less than twice the number of nickels. Let represent the number of nickels. Write an expression for the number of pennies.
Answer: 2n − 7
- Jeannette has and bills in her wallet. The number of fives is three more than six times the number of tens. Let represent the number of tens. Write an expression for the number of fives.
Everyday Math
In the following exercises, use algebraic expressions to solve the problem.Car insurance
Justin’s car insurance has a deductible per incident. This means that he pays and his insurance company will pay all costs beyond . If Justin files a claim for , how much will he pay, and how much will his insurance company pay?Answer: He will pay $750. His insurance company will pay $1350.
Home insurance
Pam and Armando’s home insurance has a deductible per incident. This means that they pay and their insurance company will pay all costs beyond . If Pam and Armando file a claim for , how much will they pay, and how much will their insurance company pay?Writing Exercises
Explain why "the sum of x and y" is the same as "the sum of y and x," but "the difference of x and y" is not the same as "the difference of y and x." Try substituting two random numbers for and to help you explain. [practice-area rows="4"][/practice-area] Explain the difference between " times the sum of and " and "the sum of times and ." [practice-area rows="4"][/practice-area]Subtraction Property of Equality
Determine Whether a Number is a Solution of an Equation
In the following exercises, determine whether each given value is a solution to the equation.Exercise 1
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Answer: yes
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Answer: no
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
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Answer: no
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Answer: yes
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
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Answer: yes
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Answer: no
Exercise 6
Exercise 7
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Answer: no
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Answer: yes
Exercise 8
Exercise 9
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Answer: no
-
Answer: yes
Exercise 10
Exercise 11
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Answer: no
-
Answer: yes
Exercise 12
Model the Subtraction Property of Equality
In the following exercises, write the equation modeled by the envelopes and counters and then solve using the subtraction property of equality.Exercise 1

Answer: x + 2 = 5; x = 3
Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Answer: x + 3 = 6; x = 3
Exercise 4

Solve Equations using the Subtraction Property of Equality
In the following exercises, solve each equation using the subtraction property of equality.-
Answer: a = 16
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Answer: p = 5
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Answer: r = 24
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Answer: x = 7
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Answer: p = 69
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Answer: d = 67
Solve Equations using the Addition Property of Equality
In the following exercises, solve each equation using the addition property of equality.-
Answer: y = 22
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Answer: u = 30
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Answer: f = 178
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Answer: n = 32
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Answer: p = 48
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Answer: y = 467
Translate Word Phrase to Algebraic Equations
In the following exercises, translate the given sentence into an algebraic equation.- The sum of and is equal to .
Answer: 8 + 9 = 17
- The sum of and is equal to .
- The difference of and is equal to .
Answer: 23 − 19 = 4
- The difference of and is equal to .
- The product of and is equal to .
Answer: 3 ⋅ 9 = 27
- The product of and is equal to .
- The quotient of and is equal to .
Answer: 54 ÷ 6 = 9
- The quotient of and is equal to .
- Twice the difference of and gives .
Answer: 2(n − 10) = 52
- Twice the difference of and gives .
- The sum of three times and is .
Answer: 3y + 10 = 100
- The sum of eight times and is .
Translate to an Equation and Solve
In the following exercises, translate the given sentence into an algebraic equation and then solve it.- Five more than is equal to .
Answer: p + 5 = 21; p = 16
- Nine more than is equal to .
- The sum of and is .
Answer: r + 18 = 73; r = 55
- The sum of and is .
- The difference of and is equal to .
Answer: d − 30 = 52; d = 82
- The difference of and is equal to .
- less than is .
Answer: u − 12 = 89; u = 101
- less than is .
- less than gives .
Answer: c − 325 = 799; c = 1124
- less than gives .
Everyday Math
Insurance
Vince’s car insurance has a deductible. Find the amount the insurance company will pay, , for an claim by solving the equation .Answer: $1300
Insurance
Marta’s homeowner’s insurance policy has a deductible. The insurance company paid to repair damages caused by a storm. Find the total cost of the storm damage, , by solving the equation .Sale purchase
Arthur bought a suit that was on sale for off. He paid for the suit. Find the original price, , of the suit by solving the equation .Answer: $460
Sale purchase
Rita bought a sofa that was on sale for . She paid a total of , including sales tax. Find the amount of the sales tax, , by solving the equation .Writing Exercises
Is a solution to the equation How do you know? [practice-area rows="4"][/practice-area] Write the equation in words. Then make up a word problem for this equation. [practice-area rows="4"][/practice-area]Finding Multiples and Factors
Identify Multiples of Numbers
In the following exercises, list all the multiples less than for the given number.
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Answer: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48
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Answer: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48
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Answer: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48
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Answer: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48
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Answer: 10, 20, 30, 40
Use Common Divisibility Tests
In the following exercises, use the divisibility tests to determine whether each number is divisible by .
-
Answer: Divisible by 2, 3, 4, 6
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Answer: Divisible by 3, 5
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Answer: Divisible by 2, 3, 4, 6
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Answer: Divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10
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Answer: Divisible by 2, 4
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Answer: Divisible by 3, 5
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Answer: Divisible by 2, 5, 10
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Answer: Divisible by 2, 5, 10
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Answer: Divisible by 3, 5
Find All the Factors of a Number
In the following exercises, find all the factors of the given number.
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Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36
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Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, 30, 60
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Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72,144
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Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14, 21, 28, 42, 49, 84, 98, 147, 196, 294, 588
Identify Prime and Composite Numbers
In the following exercises, determine if the given number is prime or composite.
-
Answer: prime
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Answer: composite
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Answer: prime
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Answer: composite
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Answer: composite
-
Answer: composite
Everyday Math
Banking
Frank’s grandmother gave him at his high school graduation. Instead of spending it, Frank opened a bank account. Every week, he added to the account. The table shows how much money Frank had put in the account by the end of each week. Complete the table by filling in the blanks.Weeks after graduation | Total number of dollars Frank put in the account | Simplified Total |
---|---|---|
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | ||
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | ||
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | ||
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | |
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | |
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] |
Answer:
Banking
In March, Gina opened a Christmas club savings account at her bank. She deposited to open the account. Every week, she added to the account. The table shows how much money Gina had put in the account by the end of each week. Complete the table by filling in the blanks.Weeks after opening the account | Total number of dollars Gina put in the account | Simplified Total |
---|---|---|
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | ||
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | ||
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | ||
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | |
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | |
[practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] | [practice-area rows="1"][/practice-area] |
Writing Exercises
Prime Factorization and the Least Common Multiple
Find the Prime Factorization of a Composite Number
In the following exercises, find the prime factorization of each number using the factor tree method.
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 43
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 11
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Answer: 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 7 ⋅ 11
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Answer: 5 ⋅ 23
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Answer: 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 11
- 1560
Find the Prime Factorization of a Composite Number
In the following exercises, find the prime factorization of each number using the ladder method.
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 7
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 7
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Answer: 17 ⋅ 23
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Answer: 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 5
Find the Prime Factorization of a Composite Number
In the following exercises, find the prime factorization of each number using any method.
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5
-
Answer: 3 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 7
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 7
Find the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of Two Numbers
In the following exercises, find the least common multiple (LCM) by listing multiples.-
Answer: 24
-
Answer: 30
-
Answer: 120
-
Answer: 300
Find the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of Two Numbers
In the following exercises, find the least common multiple (LCM) by using the prime factors method.
-
Answer: 24
-
Answer: 120
-
Answer: 420
Find the Least Common Multiple (LCM) of Two Numbers
In the following exercises, find the least common multiple (LCM) using any method.
-
Answer: 42
-
Answer: 120
Everyday Math
Grocery shopping
Hot dogs are sold in packages of ten, but hot dog buns come in packs of eight. What is the smallest number of hot dogs and buns that can be purchased if you want to have the same number of hot dogs and buns? (Hint: it is the LCM!)Answer: 40
Grocery shopping
Paper plates are sold in packages of and party cups come in packs of . What is the smallest number of plates and cups you can purchase if you want to have the same number of each? (Hint: it is the LCM!)Writing Exercises
Chapter Review Exercises
Use the Language of Algebra
Use Variables and Algebraic Symbols
In the following exercises, translate from algebra to English.-
Answer: the product of 3 and 8
-
Answer: the quotient of 24 and 6
-
Answer: 50 is greater than or equal to 47
-
Answer: The sum of n and 4 is equal to 13
Identify Expressions and Equations
In the following exercises, determine if each is an expression or equation.-
Answer: equation
-
Answer: expression
Simplify Expressions with Exponents
In the following exercises, write in exponential form.-
Answer: 23
-
Answer: x6
Simplify Expressions with Exponents
In the following exercises, write in expanded form.-
Answer: 8 ⋅ 8 ⋅ 8 ⋅ 8
-
Answer: y ⋅ y ⋅ y ⋅ y ⋅ y
Simplify Expressions with Exponents
In the following exercises, simplify each expression.-
Answer: 81
-
Answer: 128
Simplify Expressions Using the Order of Operations
In the following exercises, simplify.-
Answer: 20
-
Answer: 18
-
Answer: 74
-
Answer: 31
Evaluate, Simplify, and Translate Expressions
Evaluate an Expression
In the following exercises, evaluate the following expressions.-
Answer: 58
- when
Answer: 26
Identify Terms, Coefficients and Like Terms
In the following exercises, identify the terms in each expression.-
Answer: 12n2,3n, 1
Identify Terms, Coefficients and Like Terms
In the following exercises, identify the coefficient of each term.-
Answer: 6
-
Answer: 3, 4, and 3x, x
Simplify Expressions by Combining Like Terms
In the following exercises, simplify the following expressions by combining like terms.-
Answer: 24a
-
Answer: 14x
-
Answer: 12n + 11
-
Answer: 10y2 + 2y + 3
Translate English Phrases to Algebraic Expressions
In the following exercises, translate the following phrases into algebraic expressions.- the difference of and
Answer: x − 6
- the sum of and twice
- the product of and
Answer: 3n ⋅ 9
- the quotient of and
- times the sum of and
Answer: 5(y + 1)
- less than the product of and
Translate English Phrases to Algebraic Expressions
In the following exercises, write the algebraic expressions that can be found in each sentence.- Jack bought a sandwich and a coffee. The cost of the sandwich was more than the cost of the coffee. Call the cost of the coffee . Write an expression for the cost of the sandwich.
Answer: c + 3
- The number of poetry books on Brianna’s bookshelf is less than twice the number of novels. Call the number of novels . Write an expression for the number of poetry books.
Subtraction Property of Equality
Determine Whether a Number is a Solution of an Equation
In the following exercises, determine whether each number is a solution to the equation.Exercise 1
-
Answer: yes
-
Answer: no
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
-
Answer: yes
-
Answer: No
Exercise 4
Exercise 5
-
Answer: no
-
Answer: yes
Exercise 6
Model the Subtraction Property of Equality
In the following exercises, write the equation modeled by the envelopes and counters and then solve the equation using the subtraction property of equality.
Answer: x + 3 = 5; x = 2

Solve Equations using the Subtraction Property of Equality
In the following exercises, solve each equation using the subtraction property of equality.-
Answer: 6
-
Answer: 11
Solve Equations using the Addition Property of Equality
In the following exercises, solve each equation using the addition property of equality.-
Answer: 23
-
Answer: 34
Translate English Sentences to Algebraic Equations
In the following exercises, translate each English sentence into an algebraic equation.- The sum of and is equal to .
Answer: 7 + 33 = 44
- The difference of and is equal to .
- The product of and is equal to .
Answer: 4 ⋅ 8 = 32
- The quotient of and is equal to .
- Twice the difference of and gives .
Answer: 2(n − 3) = 76
- The sum of five times and is .
Translate to an Equation and Solve
In the following exercises, translate each English sentence into an algebraic equation and then solve it.- Eight more than is equal to .
Answer: x + 8 = 35; x = 27
- less than is .
- The difference of and is .
Answer: q − 18 = 57; q = 75
- The sum of and is .
Mixed Practice
In the following exercises, solve each equation.-
Answer: h = 42
-
Answer: z = 33
-
Answer: q = 8
-
Answer: v = 56
Finding Multiples and Factors
Identify Multiples of Numbers
In the following exercises, list all the multiples less than for each of the following.-
Answer: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48
-
Answer: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48
Use Common Divisibility Tests
In the following exercises, using the divisibility tests, determine whether each number is divisible by 2, by 3, by 5, by 6, and by 10.-
Answer: 2, 3, 6
-
Answer: 2, 3, 5, 6, 10
Find All the Factors of a Number
In the following exercises, find all the factors of each number.-
Answer: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30
-
Answer: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 30, 36, 45, 60, 90, 180
Identify Prime and Composite Numbers
In the following exercises, identify each number as prime or composite.-
Answer: prime
-
Answer: composite
Prime Factorization and the Least Common Multiple
Find the Prime Factorization of a Composite Number
In the following exercises, find the prime factorization of each number.-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 7
-
Answer: 2 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 7
Find the Least Common Multiple of Two Numbers
In the following exercises, find the least common multiple of each pair of numbers.-
Answer: 45
-
Answer: 350
Everyday Math
Describe how you have used two topics from The Language of Algebra chapter in your life outside of your math class during the past month. [practice-area rows="4"][/practice-area]Chapter Practice Test
In the following exercises, translate from an algebraic equation to English phrases.-
Answer: fifteen minus x
-
Answer: equation
- Write in exponential form.
Answer: n6
- Write in expanded form and then simplify.
Answer: 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 = 243
-
Answer: 36
-
Answer: 5
-
Answer: 45
-
Answer: 125
-
Answer: 36
- more than
Answer: x + 5
- the quotient of and
- three times the difference of
Answer: 3(a − b)
- Caroline has fewer earrings on her left ear than on her right ear. Call the number of earrings on her right ear, . Write an expression for the number of earrings on her left ear.
-
Answer: n = 31
- less than is .
Answer: y − 15 = 32; y = 47
- the sum of and is .
- List all the multiples of , that are less than .
Answer: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48
- Find all the factors of .
- Find the prime factorization of .
Answer: 23 ⋅ 33 ⋅ 5
- Find the LCM (Least Common Multiple) of and .