Question

Write an algebraic expression for each word phrase.
1. The number of minutes is s seconds.

Answer 1

@HopefullySuccessful Pick a variable for the number of minutes.

Answer 2

90

Answer 3

@Paynesdad

Answer 4

90 is not a variable...a variable is usually a letter.

Answer 5

The variable is s isn't it?

Answer 6

it is the variable for the number of seconds. what variable would make sense for the number of minutes?

Answer 7

@Paynesdad x?

Answer 8

x would work... I would have used m but it x is fine.
Now how many seconds in every minute?

Answer 9

60

Answer 10

I'll use m then @Paynesdad

Answer 11

Ok so what do you do to m to get the number of seconds?

Answer 12

Divide @Paynesdad ?

Answer 13

Hang on let say we have 5 minutes...What do you do to 5 to get the number of seconds?

Answer 14

Multiply?

Answer 15

So the answer is M divided by S?

Answer 16

I mean times. Not divide.

Answer 17

@Paynesdad

Answer 18

Ok so times so how do you write that?

Answer 19

\[m \times s\]

Answer 20

@Paynesdad

Answer 21

No m is number of minutes and s is the number of seconds. If you had five minutes what would you multiply the 5 by to get the number of seconds?

Answer 22

@Paynesdad 60?

Answer 23

right so 60(5), right?

Answer 24

Yeah

Answer 25

Now bare with me...ok...
How would you find the number of seconds in 10 minutes?

Answer 26

60 times 10 divided by 60?

Answer 27

@Paynesdad

Answer 28

Whoa whoa whoa if you take 60(5) for 5 minutes why wouldn't you just take 60(10) for 10 minutes?

Answer 29

sorry. So it is 60 x 10?

Answer 30

right... so 60(5) for 5 minutes, 60(10) for ten minutes...so how about 30 minutes?

Answer 31

I'm lost.

Answer 32

I'm trying to help you see the pattern.
You its 60x5 to find number of seconds in 5 minutes, right?
60x10 to to find number of seconds in 10 minutes, right?
So what is it to find the number of seconds in 30 minutes?

Answer 33

60x30

Answer 34

Exactly so if you have m minutes what is it?

Answer 35

60xm?

Answer 36

Yes now you re getting it...But in algebra we write 60 x m as just 60m, right?

Answer 37

Yes

Answer 38

Is there a formula for this? Could you possibly make one up?

Answer 39

Ok now last step the word "is" in math is "=" and so that equation would be 60m = s.

Answer 40

So I write it 60m = s?

Answer 41

yep

Answer 42

Yay! Thank you SOO much! This is my first ever homework assignment so you really helped! :) Thank you very much again! Your awesome.

Answer 43

:-)