MA095 Study Guide
KEY WORDS TO TRANSLATE WORD PROBLEMS

Below each mathematical operation is a list of key words that indicate that operation. This is not an exhaustive list.

ADDITION	SUBTRACTION	MULTIPLICATION	DIVISION
sum	difference	product	quotient
add	subtract, subtracted from	multiply	divide
plus	minus	times	into
total	less	of	ratio
more, more than	less than	twice, double, triple
increase, increased by	decrease, decreased by	square
taller, longer, wider	shorter, narrower	area, volume
perimeter	distance (between points)

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STEPS FOR SOLVING ALGEBRAIC WORD PROBLEMS
1. READ THE PROBLEM - This means read and reread it until you understand what you know, what you don't know and how each element in the problem is related. This may involved drawing a diagram, making a chart, or finding a formula.
2. DEFINE YOUR VARIABLES - For each unknown in the problem assign a variable or expression to represent that unknown in you equation. You may use a diagram or a chart to define variables.
3. WRITE AN EQUATION OR INEQUALITY TO MODEL THE PROBLEM - The algebraic statement you write should summarize the relationships in the problem.
4. SOLVE THE PROBLEM
5. CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR ANSWER IS REASONABLE - If the problem ask how long is the side of a rectangle and your answer is negative, something is probably wrong.
6. WRITE A SHORT STATEMENT THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED IN THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM - Sometimes the answer to the problem is not what x equals. Write a sentence that completely answers the problem. Indicate units of measurement when appropriate.

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This material was compiled by Ms. Cheryl McAllister.