Helpful Math Clue Words
Solving word problems is tough if you don't know these important math clue
words. Mathematics is a
language: you have to be able
to translate words into equations and expressions.
| Of course, there are exceptions to
every rule, but the keywords listed in the tables below almost always
translate to the given symbol.
All the math clue words are separated by a black dot ●. |
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Words
that Translate to Arithmetic Symbols
|
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+
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●
added to ● increased by ● more than ●
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-
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● subtracted by ● decreased by ● less than
●
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x
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● multiplied by ●
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๗
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● divided by ●
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=
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● equal to
● the same amount as ● costs ● is the same as ●
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<
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● less
than ● fewer than ●
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≤
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● less
than or equal to ● no more than ●
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>
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● greater
than ● more than ●
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≥
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● greater
than or equal to ● no less than ●
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Writing Equations in
Slope-Intercept Form
|
Slope-intercept
form is given as y = mx +b, where
m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
The slope is multiplied by the
variable we sometimes say that we attach that number
to the variable.
|
m
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● rate of
change ● per ● each ● for every
●
●
look for a value that happens often like monthly payment ●
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b
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● look for a
value that happens only once like a membership fee
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More free
help in pre-algebra
and algebra.
Return to
the GRADE-A homepage.

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