How do you translate "7 less than twice a number and k" into a mathematical expression?

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Answer 1 · 2016-07-30T16:52:11

There are two different interpretations:

$2 x + k - 7 or 2 (x + k) - 7$ $2x+k - 7" or "2(x +k) -7$

In the absence of any punctuation which would indicate exactly what is meant, this statement could be read as:

"7 less than, twice a number and k"

"7 less than ...." means subtract 7 from a number.

"Twice a number means "2 times a number"
"Twice a number and $k$ $k$ means add $k$ $k$ .

Use $x$ $x$ as the number.

Putting these phrases together gives

$2 x + k - 7$ $2x+k - 7$

the statement could also be read as:

"7 less than, twice, a number and k"

$2 (x + k) - 7$ $2(x +k) -7$