On the PSAT Math Test, another way\u00a0linear equations can be made to look complicated is for them to be disguised in \u201creal-world\u201d word problems, where it\u2019s up to you to extract and solve an equation. When you\u2019re solving these PSAT math problems, you may run into trouble translating English into math. The following table shows some of the most common phrases and mathematical equivalents you\u2019re likely to see on the PSAT.
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| English<\/b><\/td>\n | Math<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n| equals, is, equivalent to, was, will be, has, costs, adds up to, the same as, as much as<\/i><\/td>\n | =<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | times, of, multiplied by, product of, twice, double, by<\/i><\/td>\n | \u00d7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | divided by, per, out of, each, ratio<\/i><\/td>\n | \u00f7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | plus, added to, and, sum, combined, total, increased by<\/i><\/td>\n | +<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | minus, subtracted from, smaller than, less than, fewer, decreased by, difference between<\/i><\/td>\n | \u2013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | a number, how much, how many, what<\/i><\/td>\n | x, n,<\/i> etc.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n | <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n Linear word problems are made more difficult by complex phrasing and extraneous information. Don\u2019t get frustrated\u2014word problems can be broken down in predictable ways.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s apply this to a straightforward example: Colin\u2019s age is three less than twice Jim\u2019s age.<\/p>\n This strategy fits into the larger framework of the Kaplan Method for Math: When you get to Step 2: Choose the best strategy to answer the question<\/b> and are trying to solve a word problem as efficiently as possible, switch over to this strategy to move forward quickly.<\/p>\n The Kaplan Strategy for Translating English into Math works every time. Apply it here to a test-like example:<\/p>\n\n\t |