Question

How do you translate word phrases to an algebraic expression: eleven minus two times a number is three ?

Answer 1

Hint: In the given question, we are required to write an algebraic expression based on the information given to us. First, break down the information given to us to try and identify what algebraic expression must look like. You should always know what you are dealing with. A sum means that you are adding something, so you are going to use the $ + $ sign.

Complete step by step answer:
The “eleven minus two times a number” means first assuming a variable and multiplying it with $2$ and then subtracting the result from eleven as mentioned in the statement of the question.
First of all, let the variable be x. Then, multiplying the variable x with $2$, we get $2x$. Then, we have to subtract the product from eleven. Therefore, we get $11 - 2x$. Now, we are given that this resultant expression is equal to three. So equating the resultant algebraic expression to three, we get,
$11 - 2x = 3$

So, the algebraic equation $11 - 2x = 3$ is the translation of the given word phrases.

Note: An expression is a sentence with a minimum of two numbers and at least one math operation. This math operation can be addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
A math expression is different from a math equation. An equation will always use an equivalent $\left( = \right)$ operator between the two terms. It is not a surprise that variables act like pronouns, because math is basically its own language, defined by numeric and logical rules.