Question

How do you translate "9 less than three times a number" into an algebraic expression?

Answer 1

Hint: In this question, we have to translate the given words to an algebraic expression. Here, ‘a number’ is mentioned which we have to assign as ‘x’ in order to find the algebraic expression. We have to form an expression using terms. As we all know very well about it, terms are written using numbers and variables. So basically we want our answer in numbers and variables form.

Complete step-by-step solution:
Now, let’s make an expression from these given words.
As we have already let a number be ‘x’ above. Now we will be using this variable ‘x’ to solve the rest of the question.
So, in question it's written ‘three times a number’. Here times means to multiply.
So, three times a number means 3 multiplied by ‘x’.
$\Rightarrow 3\times x$
$\Rightarrow 3\times x$
$\Rightarrow$3x
When we write 3x, it actually means that 3 is multiplied by x. In case of multiplication, there is no need to write a multiplication symbol between number and a variable.
From the above steps we have already got half of the expression. Now let’s solve the rest half.
Now, the question says ‘9 less than three times a number’.
Less than means to subtract.
According to the question, 9 is getting subtracted from 3 times ‘x’
$\Rightarrow 3x-9$
So, this is our final expression.

Note: As the translation from English to maths is quite tricky, please make sure that your expression should contain all the symbols in correct order because the order of words is different from the order of the numbers, variables and symbols in the expression. Do not follow the first come first rule. First examine the whole sentence then make a suitable expression. You should know the meaning of some simple words like less than means minus, added to means to add, times or of means to multiply.