Solution to Contest #5

A number times the number less four is 320.

Here is the English to math translation:

"a number" becomes = "N"
"times" becomes = "x"
"less four" becomes "-4"
"is" becomes "="
"320" becomes "320"

So the direct translation becomes:

N x (N-4) = 320

When we solve, we get N = 20

Contest #5

The math for Contest #4 must have been too hard for business English learners, so I will make this contest easier.

A number times the number less four is 320.

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Solution to Contest #4

Four into a number is the product of the square root of the number and two-and-a-half.

"Into" means "divide," but the order is reversed. So "four into a number" is translated into "x / 4"

"is" becomes "="

"product" means a multiplication

"Square Root" is the . . . . . (sorry, this blog does not have the symbol for the square root) SQR

"two-and-a-half" becomes "2.5"

So the English is translated into this equation:

x / 4 = sqr(x) * 2.5

If we clear the fraction (multiply both sides by 4), we get:

x = sqr(x) * 10

Squaring both sides:

x^2 = x *100

Divide both sides by "x":

x = 100

Contest #4

The last contest must have been too easy because no one tried it. Let's make it harder!

Four into a number is the product of the square root of the number and two-and-a-half.

Have your English teachers ever taught you what "into" means in numbers English? Probably not! I guess you will have to figure this vocabulary out by yourself.

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Solution to Contest #3

Two-thirds of a number is two from that number.

Here's the translation:
"Two-thirds" becomes "2/3"
"of" becomes "times"
"a number" becomes "x"
"is" becomes "="
"two" becomes "2"
"from" becomes "-"
"that number" becomes "x"

If we do a direct translation, we get:

2/3 times x = 2 - x

However, when we use the word "from" to indicate a subtraction, we have to reverse the order. (Have any of your English teachers ever taught you this?). So the equation is properly translated to:

2/3 times x = x - 2

The correct answer is 6.

Contest #3

Two-thirds of a number is two from that number.

Too easy, you say? Try to make the translation!


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Answer to Contest #2

The English can be translated into this equation:

x (a number) + (plus) 4x (four times that number) - (minus) x/4 (a quarter of that number) = (is) 19 (19)

x + 4x - x/4 = 19

4x + 16x - x = 76

19x = 76

x = 4

The math is much easier than the English. I have to teach native speakers how to make these kinds of translations. How good are you at translating English into math?