Question

The algebraic expression for the statement “Product of \[x\] and \[a\] subtracted from the product \[b\] and \[y\] is _______.
1) \[ax - by\]
2) \[x + a - by\]
3) \[by - ax\]
4) \[xa - b - y\]

Answer 1

Hint:
Firstly, write the product of \[x\] and \[a\] by multiplying them. Then, find the product of \[b\] and \[y\] by multiplying them. To find the required algebraic expression, we’ll try to get the difference of the product of \[x\] and \[a\] from the product of \[b\] and \[y\].

Complete step by step solution:
We will first find the product of \[x\] and \[a\].
The product of \[x\] and \[a\] is written as \[ax\].
Then, find the product of \[b\] and \[y\].
The product of \[b\] and \[y\] is written as.
As, we have to subtract the product of \[x\] and \[a\] from the product of \[b\] and \[y\], we can write it as,
\[by - ax\]

Hence, the algebraic expression for the statement “Product of \[x\] and \[a\]subtracted from the product \[b\] and \[y\]is \[by - ax\].

Note:
The expression \[ax\] can also be written as \[xa\]. Both forms are correct. Many students make mistakes in subtracting the products. Note that, the product of \[x\] and \[a\] is subtracted from the product of \[b\] and \[y\], thus, \[by\] should come first and then subtracting \[ax\] from it.