* Consider this problem: "what number when added to 5, * gives the result 20". * * Instead of a sentence, this problem can be written * much shorter and clearer as an equation like this.. * * 5 + x = 20 * * where x denotes the number we are trying to find.
My experience suggests that it is a good idea to spend a little time at the beginning showing how to translate from the verbal form to the algebraic form, such as:
what number when added to 5
x + 5
what number when added to 5, gives the result 20
x + 5 = 20
It is also probably better to rephrase the question in order that it lends itself better to an expansion in this way, such as:
I am thinking of a number. I add 5 to the number. After adding 5, I get the number 20. What is the number I was thinking of?