Curriculum  /  Math  /  6th Grade  /  Unit 5: Numerical and Algebraic Expressions  /  Lesson 5

Numerical and Algebraic Expressions

Lesson 5

Math

Unit 5

6th Grade

Lesson 5 of 12

Objective

Write expressions for verbal statements and vice versa (Part 1).

Common Core Standards

Core Standards

  • 6.EE.A.2.A — Write expressions that record operations with numbers and with letters standing for numbers. For example, express the calculation "Subtract y from 5" as 5 - y.
  • 6.EE.A.2.B — Identify parts of an expression using mathematical terms (sum, term, product, factor, quotient, coefficient); view one or more parts of an expression as a single entity. For example, describe the expression 2 (8 + 7) as a product of two factors; view (8 + 7) as both a single entity and a sum of two terms.

Foundational Standards

  • 5.OA.A.2

Criteria for Success

  1. Describe expressions with one operation in multiple ways, paying attention to the order of the terms where the operation is not commutative.
  2. Distinguish between $${x-y}$$ and $${y-x}$$ and the different ways to describe each expression.
  3. Represent expressions with sums, differences, and products in written and algebraic forms. 
  4. Define a term as a part of an expression that is separated from other terms by addition and subtraction. A term can be a single numerical value or a product of numbers and variables.

Tips for Teachers

  • Lessons 5 and 6 engage students in representing expressions verbally and algebraically, extending on their work with 5.OA.2 where they wrote numerical expressions to record calculations. In Lesson 5, students start with expressions with only one operation. They build towards expressions with combined operations using sums, differences, and products, paying close attention to the order of the terms and where parentheses are needed. In Lesson 6, students will look at more complex expressions, including those involving quotients and exponents. 
  • The commutative property of addition comes into play as students discover they can represent $$x+2$$ as both "the sum of $$x$$ and 2" and "the sum of 2 and $$x$$", but yet the same does not hold true for subtraction. Students are familiar with the concept of the the commutative property from elementary grades, however, they have not necessarily used the formal term. This is an opportunity to introduce the term and connect it to the concept at hand. There will be additional opportunities to use this language throughout the unit.  
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Anchor Problems

25-30 minutes

Problem 1

Four expressions are shown in the chart below. For each one, write all the ways to read the expressions that you can think of.

$${x+2}$$ $${x-2}$$

 

 

 

  
$${2x}$$ $${x\div2}$$

 

 

 

  

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem 2

Two tape diagrams are shown below. The shading indicates subtraction. 

Statements a–h below can be used to describe either Diagram 1 or Diagram 2. Match each statement to one of the diagrams. 

a.   The difference of $$4$$ and $$m$$

b.   The difference of $$m$$ and $$4$$

c.   $$4$$ less than $$m$$

d.   $$m$$ less than $$4$$

e.   $$4$$ less $$m$$

f.   $$m$$ less $$4$$

g.   Subtract $$4$$ from $$m$$

h.   Subtract $$m$$ from $$4$$

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem 3

For each verbal statement, write the algebraic expression it describes.

a.   The sum of $$e$$ and $$f$$ subtracted from $$g$$

b.   $$g$$ less than the sum of $$e$$ and $$f$$

c.   $$g$$ more than twice $$f$$

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem Set

15-20 minutes

Give your students more opportunities to practice the skills in this lesson with a downloadable problem set aligned to the daily objective.

Target Task

5-10 minutes

Problem 1

Which verbal statement describes the algebraic expression $${2m-n}$$?

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Student Response

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Problem 2

Which algebraic expression represents the statement “the difference of $$8$$ and the sum of $$3$$ and $$x$$”?

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Student Response

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Additional Practice

The following resources include problems and activities aligned to the objective of the lesson that can be used for additional practice or to create your own problem set.

  • An activity idea is to play the game memory in pairs by matching expressions written as verbal statements to expressions written in algebraic form. Teachers can create the cards or give students notecards and have them write their own examples to use.

Next

Write expressions for verbal statements and vice versa (Part 2).

Lesson 6
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Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Topic A: Numerical Expressions with Exponents

Topic B: Introduction to Algebraic Expressions

Topic C: Equivalent Expressions & Applications

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