Question

How do you write a verbal expression for the algebraic expression $3{n^2} - x$?

Answer 1

Hint: In the question above, we have an expression and we have to write it in verbal expression. Now, to write an expression in verbal form, one must use mathematical terms related to that particular expression.
For example, squared, multiple of and so on, are some of the terms used while writing a verbal expression.

Complete step-by-step solution:
For an algebraic expression $3{n^2} - x$, we know that there are two variables involved.
We can also see that one of the variables is multiplied with a constant and squared, and on the other hand we have another variable getting subtracted from the first variable.
In order to write these words, we will first break this down into different parts, holding the constant, variables and the signs separately.
Now, we have the expression,
$ \Rightarrow 3 \times n$
This expression can be written as the product of $3$ and $n$.
Now, these two expressions are squared as a whole, so we have,
$ \Rightarrow 3{n^2}$
This expression is now read as the product of $3$ and $n$ squared.
But the equation does not end here, we also have another variable getting subtracted.
$ \Rightarrow 3{n^2} - x$

So, the final verbal expression will be written as: the difference of, the product of $3$ and $n$ squared and $x$.

Note: An algebraic expression is an expression that is made and written with the help of integers, constants and algebraic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and other operations. Letters at the beginning of the equation are usually constants and letters at then are usually variables. In the equation above, we had subtraction; a variable was getting subtracted from a value that was squared.