We've updated our
Privacy Policy effective December 15. Please read our updated Privacy Policy and tap

Study Guides > Prealgebra

Translating Word Phrases into Expressions With Integers

Learning Outcomes

  • Translate word phrases that contain negative numbers, or opposites
  Now we can translate word phrases into expressions with integers. Look for words that indicate a negative sign. For example, the word negative in "negative twenty" indicates [latex]-20[/latex]. So does the word opposite in "the opposite of [latex]20\text{."}[/latex]

Example

Translate each phrase into an expression with integers:
  1. The opposite of positive fourteen
  2. The opposite of [latex]-11[/latex]
  3. Negative sixteen
  4. Two minus negative seven
Solution:
  1. The opposite of fourteen is [latex]-14[/latex]
  2. The opposite of −11 is [latex]-\left(-11\right)[/latex]
  3. Negative sixteen is [latex]-16[/latex]
  4. Two minus negative seven is [latex]2-\left(-7\right)[/latex]
    As we saw at the start of this section, negative numbers are needed to describe many real-world situations. We’ll look at some more applications of negative numbers in the next example.

example

Translate into an expression with integers:
  1. The temperature is [latex]12\text{degrees Fahrenheit}[/latex] below zero.
  2. The football team had a gain of [latex]3\text{yards.}[/latex]
  3. The elevation of the Dead Sea is [latex]1,302\text{feet}[/latex] below sea level.
  4. A checking account is overdrawn by [latex]$40[/latex]

Answer: Solution Look for key phrases in each sentence. Then look for words that indicate negative signs. Don’t forget to include units of measurement described in the sentence.

1. The temperature is [latex]12 degrees[/latex] Fahrenheit below zero.
Below zero tells us that [latex]12[/latex] is a negative number. [latex]-12[/latex] F
2. The football team had a gain of [latex]3[/latex] yards.
A gain tells us that [latex]3[/latex] is a positive number. [latex]3[/latex] yards
3. The elevation of the Dead Sea is [latex]1,302[/latex] feet below sea level.
Below sea level tells us that [latex]1,302[/latex] is a negative number. [latex]-1,302[/latex] feet
4. A checking account is overdrawn by [latex]$40[/latex].
Overdrawn tells us that [latex]40[/latex] is a negative number. [latex]-$40[/latex]

     

Licenses & Attributions

CC licensed content, Shared previously

  • Question ID: 144975, 144976. Authored by: Alyson Day. License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: IMathAS Community License CC-BY + GPL.

CC licensed content, Specific attribution