Question 1122522
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I didn't know basketball teams could score runs.......<br>
The unknown is the number of runs scored by the other team, so call that number x.<br>
Then the problem says that 5 is 4 more than 1/2 of x.<br>
Translate that directly into algebraic notation:
"more than..." implies addition;
"1/2 of..." means multiplication;
the word "is" is the equals sign.<br>
Note further that "3 more than 7" should be interpreted as 7+3 instead of 3+7.  While the two expressions 7+3 and 3+7 have the same value, the phrase "3 more than 7" suggests that you are starting with the 7 and adding the 3.<br>
The distinction becomes important when the phrase is "3 less than 7".  Beginning algebra students want to translate that word for word and get "3-7".  However, clearly the meaning is that you are starting with the 7 and subtracting the 3; so the correct expression is "7-3".