91Ó°ÊÓ

When solving word problems, it’s essential to understand the language of math. The problem might be in words, but you can translate it into a math expression. By breaking down the sentence, identify keywords like 'multiply,' 'add,' 'subtract,' or 'divide.'

For example, in the problem 'Multiply \(-3\) and \(-1\),' the keyword is ‘multiply.’ This tells us immediately that we are dealing with a multiplication problem.

Here are some common terms and their corresponding mathematical operations:

• 'Sum' or 'add' means addition \((+).\)
• 'Difference' or 'subtract' means subtraction \((-).\)
• 'Product' or 'multiply' means multiplication \((\cdot).\)
• 'Quotient' or 'divide' means division \((/).\)

By translating words into these symbols, you can craft the correct mathematical expression to solve the problem.

A mathematical expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators that represents a value. In the context of our problem, translating word statements into mathematical expressions simplifies the solving process.

For 'Multiply \(-3\) and \(-1\),' we translated the words into:\(-3 \times -1\).

When writing mathematical expressions involving multiplication, numbers are separated by a multiplication sign \( \times \) or a dot \( \cdot \). Ensure you are writing these expressions accurately.

Mathematical expressions are essential because they form the basis for further calculation steps. Once the word problem is translated into an expression, you can easily perform operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

Simplifying expressions means performing all possible operations to reduce the expression to its simplest form. For multiplication, this involves calculating the product of the given numbers.

In our problem, \(-3 \times -1\), we multiply the two negative numbers. A key rule in multiplication is that multiplying two negative numbers gives a positive result. So:\[ -3 \times -1 = 3 \]

Here’s a quick reminder of some multiplication rules:

• Positive \(\times\) Positive = Positive
• Positive \(\times\) Negative = Negative
• Negative \(\times\) Positive = Negative
• Negative \(\times\) Negative = Positive

Therefore, \(-3 \times -1\) leads us to a positive product, which is 3. Remembering the rules for multiplying negatives can help simplify expressions accurately and efficiently.