Use the Language of Algebra: example 1.25

Translate each English phrase into an algebraic expression: ⓐ the difference of $17 x$ and $5$ ⓑ the quotient of $10 x^{2}$ and $7 .$

Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.

1
Solution
1. ⓐ The key word is difference, which tells us the operation is subtraction. Look for the words of and and to find the numbers to subtract.
2. ⓑ The key word is “quotient,” which tells us the operation is division.
This can also be written $10 x^{2} / 7 or \frac{10 x^{2}}{7} .$

Your turn

The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.

Translate the English phrase into an algebraic expression: ⓐ the difference of $14 x^{2}$ and 13 ⓑ the quotient of 12x and 2.

How did it go?