Evaluating and Translating Expressions

Evaluating and translating algebraic expressions are the twin skills that turn word problems into solvable math. And this video builds both from the ground up. The lesson opens with a concrete example, spending money at the movies, to show why expressions with variables are useful. From there, the video walks through evaluating expressions step by step: substituting a value for the variable, then simplifying using the order of operations. Examples progress from single-variable expressions like x + 7 and 9x − 2, to exponents, to two-variable expressions. The second half of the video covers the structure of expressions, terms, coefficients, and like terms, before moving into translation, where everyday English phrases are converted into algebraic notation, including the common reversal in "less than" constructions and the role of parentheses. After watching, you'll be able to evaluate any algebraic expression by substituting given values, identify and combine like terms confidently, and write an algebraic expression from a written description. What you'll learn: • Substitute values into expressions and simplify using the order of operations • Distinguish terms, coefficients, and constants in an expression • Recognize and group like terms • Combine like terms to simplify expressions • Translate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division phrases into algebra • Interpret word order correctly in phrases like "less than" and "times the sum of" #PreAlgebra #AlgebraBasics #EvaluatingExpressions #OrderOfOperations #LikeTerms #TranslatingAlgebra #MathForBeginners #MiddleSchoolMath 📖 Based on Pre-Algebra by OpenStax, curated by LibreTexts. Free at math.libretexts.org — licensed under CC BY 4.0.