How do you define a variable and write an expression for each phrase: The product of 5 less a number and 4 less than twice the same number?
1 Answer
A different interpretation of the English could give:
Translate the English words into maths.
Explanation:
Let the number that is referred to be
It at least gives us something to work with rather than just a ?.
First, put in some punctuation in the statement to make it easier to understand. The key word is 'product'.
The word 'Product' always uses 'and'
The product of 2 and 3 would be 2 x 3.
In the expression we have ....
The product of, (5 less a number) and (4 less than twice the same number)
So, two values are being multiplied and we need an expression for each value.
'5 less than a number' means a certain number, with 5 subtracted from it. ....... [like 3, is 5 less than 8] In our case
"Twice a number' means the number x 2, so,
'4 less than, twice the number' is
Now write an expression for the product of the two values for which we have written expressions:
This does not need to simplified, the question is answered.
[The English is not quite clear. "5 less a number could also be interpreted as a number subtracted from 5, in which case the first bracket would be
