Writing algebraic expressions from words worksheet for Pre-Algebra
Pre-Algebra is where words first turn into symbols: phrases become expressions, sentences become equations or inequalities, and some questions run the other way, from symbols back to words. Use n for the unknown and match each key word to its operation before writing anything.
Also taught in Algebra 1, at its own level and with its own examples.
Select your difficulty
Pick more than one for a sheet that mixes them.
The preview can look cramped on a phone. The PDF and printed sheet come out normal.
Reversing a quotient. The quotient of a number and 4 is n/4, not 4/n, because the first quantity named goes on top.
Also called translating algebraic expressions, verbal expressions, translating phrases or writing equations from words.
What you can put on this worksheet
A phrase to an expression
Six more than a number→ n+6
A sentence to an equation
Six more than a number equals 17. Write the equation.→ n+6=17
An expression to words
Write in words: 7n−8→ The difference of a number and 8, divided by 7
Numbers only, and cubes
Find the value of 6 times 12.→ 72
A sentence to an inequality
A number decreased by 7 is greater than 36. Write the inequality.→ n−7>36
One operation
Write in words: 12n→ The quotient of a number and 12
Questions about these worksheets
Yes. Every writing algebraic expressions from words sheet is free to print and free to download as a PDF. There is no account to make, no email to hand over and no limit on how many you take.
Yes. The answer key prints on a second page, and you can choose whether it shows each question beside its answer or just the answers in a list.
Yes. Print straight from the page, or download the PDF and print that. The sheet is laid out for paper rather than squeezed off a screen, so there is room to work under each question, and the answer key comes out on its own page.
Pre-Algebra is usually taken around 7th or 8th grade, though schools vary and plenty of students meet it earlier or later. Pick the difficulty rather than the grade: the easy level suits a first lesson on it, the hard level suits review before a test.
Yes, as many as you like. The questions are built fresh each time rather than picked from a fixed set of files, so pressing Generate gives a new sheet. That is what you want for a second class, a retake, or two students sitting next to each other.
That is the closest comparison, and Kuta Software is good software. It is also paid software you install on a computer. These worksheets run in a browser tab for free, with no account and nothing to install. Like Kuta, the writing algebraic expressions from words questions are generated when you ask for them rather than pulled from a fixed set of files, so two classes never get the same sheet, and the answer key comes with it.
Yes. There are three levels, and you can tick more than one for a sheet that mixes them, in which case the questions come out easiest first. The harder levels are not just larger numbers: they ask for something the easy ones do not.
You pick from 6: a phrase to an expression, a sentence to an equation, an expression to words, numbers only, and cubes, a sentence to an inequality and one operation. Tick as many as you want and set how many of each, or let it spread them evenly.
Writing the words in the order they come. "Seven less than a number" is n - 7; the 7 is spoken first and written last.