How do you translate the words into a mathematical expression: the difference of 5 and twice x?

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Answer 1 · 2016-08-16T18:11:33

$rArr 5-2x " or "2x -5$

Look at each phrase separately:

"Twice $x$ means x multiplied by 2. This is written as $2x$

The "DIFFERENCE" is the answer to a subtraction operation.
It is always used with the word "AND" indicating which two numbers must be subtracted.

The DIFFERENCE between 10 AND 7 $" "rArr " 10-7 = 3$

In the context of the question it does not matter which way the terms are subtracted.

The DIFFERENCE of 5 AND "twice x" is written as:

$rArr 5-2x " or "2x -5$