Operation Terms for Word Problems: Turn Around Phrases

from / subtracted from

Reading left to right: subtract the number BEFORE this phrase from the number or GROUP that comes AFTER this phrase

EXAMPLE:

5 subtracted from x

MEANS

x - 5

fewer / fewer than

Reading left to right: subtract the number BEFORE this phrase from the number or group that comes AFTER this phrase

EXAMPLE:

5 fewer than x

MEANS

x - 5

less than

Reading left to right: subtract the number BEFORE this phrase from the number or group that comes AFTER this phrase

EXAMPLE:

5 less than x

MEANS

x - 5

divided into

Reading left to right: the second number is the dividend/numerator and the first number is the divisor/denominator

EXAMPLE:

6 divided into x

MEANS
$\frac{x}{6}$

more than

Reading left to right: add the number BEFORE this phrase to the number or GROUP that comes AFTER this phrase

EXAMPLE:

7 more than x

MEANS

x + 7