Question

How do you write an algebraic expression that models the word phrase "the quotient of the difference between 5 and a number n,and 2"?

Answer 1

`(5-n)/2`

Explanation:

To do this we need to break down the sentence one piece at a time. The first part tells us there is a quotient, which we know is the result of a division. What we need to know is what is being divided? We are looking for "the quotient of __ and __", and from the question we see:

`color(red) "the quotient of " color(black)"(the difference between 5 and a number n)"color(red) and 2`

So the two things that are being divided are (the difference between 5 and a number n) and 2. The difference between `5` and a number `n` can be written:

`5-n`

then we form the quotient

`(5-n)/2`