Which statement is true about translating verbal descriptions into algebra?

• A. To display equivalent part-to-part and part-to-whole ratios
• B. To store coordinate pairs for a graph
• C. To show how to factor numbers
• D. To plot points on a coordinate grid

Answer: (D)

Translating verbal descriptions into algebra means turning words about quantities and relationships into symbols and equations. Once you have an equation that represents the description, plotting points on a coordinate grid is a natural way to visualize all the solutions. For example, if the description says “the sum of two numbers is seven,” you write x + y = 7. The graph of this equation on a grid shows every ordered pair (x, y) that fits the description, forming a straight line that represents all possible solutions. The other statements describe related math ideas that aren’t about turning words into algebraic relationships or illustrating them with a graph.