Monday, August 3, 2026

I DON'T UNDERSTAND... Translating Words into Algebra
TEACHER ABI — I DON'T UNDERSTAND...
0 / 110 XP
NODE 0 · LINEAR EQUATIONS PATH

I don't understand... Translating Words into Algebra

Goal: learn to read algebra like a language — so word problems stop being the scary part of every chapter after this one.

1

Start Here

Not a grade — just a compass. Answer these first.

2

Understand

One idea. Everything else in this node is just this, wearing different outfits.

Algebra words map onto symbols in clusters. Here's the decoder:

The Decoder Strip
+
sum, plus, more than, increased by, added to
−
difference, decreased by, minus — written in the order given
− FLIPS ORDER
less than, subtracted from — the number after these words comes first in your answer
×
product, times, of, twice, double
÷
quotient, divided by, per, half of
=
is, equals, gives, results in, the same as

Translate piece by piece — but "less than" and "subtracted from" flip the order. "9 less than a number" is x − 9, not 9 − x.

3

Try Together

Watch the first two. Finish the third yourself.

"The sum of a number and 9"
Unknown number → x
"sum" → +
Put it together → x + 9
"12 less than a number" FLIPS ORDER
Unknown number → x
"less than" flips it — the number goes first, 12 comes after the minus
Put it together → x − 12  (not 12 − x)
Your turn: "5 less than twice a number"
Step 1 — "twice a number" →
Step 2 — "5 less than" that (remember: flips) →
4

Practice

Same skill, rising difficulty. Instant feedback after each tier.

🥉Bronze — one step, direct orderneed 4/5
🥈Silver — two steps, watch for the flipneed 4/5
🥇Gold — mixed, including equationsneed 4/5 · counts double
5

Challenge

One rich problem. This is where translating meets solving.

A shirt costs $15 less than twice the price of a hat. If the hat costs h dollars:

(a) Write an expression for the shirt's price.
(b) If the shirt costs $25, write and solve an equation to find the hat's price.

Reveal solution (+20 XP once you've genuinely tried)
(a) "15 less than twice the price of a hat" → 2h − 15
(b) 2h − 15 = 25 → 2h = 40 → h = 20. The hat costs $20.
6

Check Yourself

Five questions. Need 4/5 to unlock Node 1.

7

Learn From Your Mistakes

Every answer, plus the trap it's testing for.

PhraseAnswerWatch for
A number increased by 12x + 12Direct order — no trap here.
6 less than a numberx − 6"Less than" flips — number comes first.
The product of a number and 5, decreased by 25x − 2"Decreased by" does NOT flip — direct order.
A number subtracted from 2020 − x"Subtracted from" flips — the number it's subtracted from comes first.
Twice a number, plus 9, equals 212x + 9 = 21"Equals" makes it an equation, not just an expression.
Node 0 complete unlocks Node 1: Solving One-Step Equations →
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