Curriculum › Math ›Grade 6

Grade 6 Math · Level 3, Expressions, Equations & Inequalities

Read, Write & Parse Expressions

How the lesson starts: Read, Write & Parse Expressions

1. The parrot's clues

   Ahoy! Captain Finn has a treasure chest, but nobody knows how many coins are inside. Call that number x. His parrot Polly squawks clues in words, like 7 more than x. Finn needs them in math code: x + 7. Let's crack Polly's code!

2. More than means add

   Here's Polly's code book. More than means add. 7 more than x is x + 7. 3 more than x is x + 3. 12 more than x is x + 12. Why use x at all? Because Finn doesn't know the coins yet, and the code works for any number.

3. Let's crack a clue

   Polly squawks: 9 more than x! Start with the mystery number, x. More than means add, so put a plus sign. Then the 9. The code is x + 9. Use a plus, not a minus or a times sign. More always adds!