PencilGo

Grade 6 · Math

6th grade Write and read expressions with letters worksheet

6 printable versionsOn Level10 questions · answer keyFree · no account

Level: Building Confidence · On Level · Challenge Me

When it’s done, scan the sheet with your phone and PencilGo marks it and picks the next one. Create a free account

Version
Print

Write and read expressions with letters

Grade 6 Math Worksheet

NameDate

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. Luz is decoding a clue. What expression shows 11 less than p?

  2. Noah cracks a code. What expression means "Take n away from 19"?

  3. Pia works on a quick puzzle. What expression means "Subtract w from 17"?

  4. Tala doubles a sum. Use parentheses for the sum. What expression shows twice the sum of x and 9?

  5. Bo gets another division clue. What expression shows the quotient of x and 14?

  6. Esme is writing a rule. What expression shows 3 less than 2 times n?

  7. Noah picks a card that shows 4k + 8. What is the coefficient of k?

    • 4k
    • 4
    • k
    • 8

  8. Ren picks a card that shows 6m + 2n + 7. How many terms does 6m + 2n + 7 have?

    • 3
    • 2
    • 5
    • 8

  9. Tala reads the card that shows 10 − m. Which words match 10 − m?

    • m added to 10
    • m subtracted from 10
    • 10 subtracted from m

  10. Ari picks a card that shows p − 12. Which words match p − 12?

    • 12 fewer than p
    • 12 more than p
    • p fewer than 12
PencilGopencilgo.com

6th grade Write and read expressions with letters worksheet – printable
Print: 123456

About this worksheet

Writing and reading expressions. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can write an expression for "5 less than n", "subtract y from 15" or "3 times the sum of x and 2".
  • I can say which number is the coefficient and how many terms an expression has.
  • I can tell when a sum or a difference needs parentheses.

Standard: 6.EE.A.2a, 6.EE.A.2b

Words to know

expression: A group of numbers, letters and signs with no equal sign, like 3x + 2.

variable: A letter that stands for a number that can change.

term: One part of an expression, joined to the others by + or −.

coefficient: The number that multiplies a letter. In 7x it is 7, and in y it is 1.

sum, difference, product, quotient: The answers to adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.

Common mistakes

Your child chose the wrong order or the wrong sign for subtraction words (5 less than n as 5 − n, subtract y from 15 as y − 15, or "Leo has k, 8 fewer than Mia" as k − 8 for Mia). Try asking "who has more?" and "if n is 12, what is 5 less than 12?" and see which way the subtraction goes.

Your child left a number out of the parentheses (3 times the sum of x and 2 as 3x + 2). Try asking "in 3 boxes that each hold x pencils and 2 erasers, how many pencils and how many erasers are there?"

Your child flipped a division (x divided by 4 as 4/x). Try asking "which amount is being shared, and how many equal parts is it shared into?" and write the shared amount first.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with write and read expressions with letters?

Your child chose the wrong order or the wrong sign for subtraction words (5 less than n as 5 − n, subtract y from 15 as y − 15, or "Leo has k, 8 fewer than Mia" as k − 8 for Mia). Try asking "who has more?" and "if n is 12, what is 5 less than 12?" and see which way the subtraction goes.

Are these 6th grade math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More grade 6 math

See all grade 6 math

Every sheet you scan goes into your child’s record: dated, marked and ready for the year-end portfolio. Homeschool records

Ready for easier practice?

Print a sheet, scan it when it’s done, and PencilGo picks the next one.

Create a free account