Write simple expressions that record calculations with numbers, and interpret numerical expressions without evaluating them. For example, express the calculation “add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2” as 2 × (8 + 7). Recognize that 3 × (18932 + 921) is three times as large as 18932 + 921, without having to calculate the indicated sum or product.
Students are able to…
- Write a numerical expression when given a mathematical expression in words (Example: Four times three added to six would be written 6 + 4 × 3)
- Translate a numerical expression into words. (Example: 10 – (2 × 3) could be read as the product of two and three subtracted from ten)
- Use order of operations to justify how they wrote their expression in words and numbers.
- Understand that there are several ways to write or read an expression.
Students are able to…because teachers:
- Provide opportunities for students to write expressions in words and numbers.
- Engage students by having them play and create their own games that help them practice matching expressions written in numbers and expressions written in words.
- Encourage students to use the understanding of order of operations to explain their reasoning when translating expressions.
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Questions to ask students:
- Point to or write a numerical expression, such as 3 + 7 × 2, and ask students to translate it into words.
- Sample answer that indicates understanding: the product of seven and two added to three.
- Sample answer that indicates an incomplete understanding or a misconception: the sum of three and seven, multiplied by two.
- Give students a mathematical expression in words (four times three added to six) and ask them to represent it with a numerical expression.
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FSA Notes
Cognitive Complexity Level: 1 – Recall
Achievement Level Descriptors:
Level 2: identifies a numerical expression from a written statement
Level 3: writes and interprets numerical expressions that contain whole numbers or fractions, without evaluating them
Level 4: writes and interprets numerical expressions that contain whole numbers and fractions with more than two procedural operations, without evaluating them
Level 5: writes statements that describe a numerical expression in multiple ways
Assessment Limits:
- Expressions may contain whole numbers or fractions with a denominator of 10 or less.
- Expressions may not include nested parentheses.
- Multiplication cross symbol is the only acceptable symbol for multiplication. The multiplication dot may not be used.
- When grouping symbols are part of the expression, the associative property or
distributive property must be found in the expression.
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Additional Resources:
Additional in depth content knowledge:
Video: Write a numerical expression to represent a verbal description of an expression
Sample Formative Assessment Task: