How do you define a variable and write an expression for each phrase: a number increased by the difference between six and a number?

1 Answer
Feb 26, 2016

Depending upon the interpretation, I'm going to suggest
color(white)("XXX")n+abs(n-6)
(see below for other possibilities)

Explanation:

Given the phrase:
color(white)("XXX")"a color(red)("number") increased by the difference between six and a color(blue)("number")"
It is unclear if the intent is that both references are to the same "number". So maybe one should be a variable n and the other a different variable m.

color(white)("XXX")"color(green)("...the difference between six and a number")"
might mean "six minus the number"
or it might mean "the absolute difference between six and the number"

With those interpretations in mind, the following are all possible intended expressions:

n+(6-n) (which would just be 6);

n+(6-m) (two different "numbers");

n+abs(6-n) (this is the one I used in the "Answer")

n+(abs(6-m) (absolute difference but two different "numbers")