If n represents a number, how do you write an expression for one-half of three less than the number?

1 Answer
Dec 3, 2016

(n - 3)/2 or (n/2 - 3/2)

Explanation:

First, let's write "three less than the number". "less than the number" means to subtract from the number. So we can write:

n - 3.

Now we need to take one-half of this. This means to multiple by 1/2. Taking what we previously wrote and multiplying by 1/2 gives:

(1/2)*(n - 3) -> (n - 3)/2 or (n/2 - 3/2)