algebra question
- Thread starter morenoj2
- Start date
D
Deleted member 4993
Guest
In your problem statement, replace:
"what" by "+x" and "3 less than" by "- 3" and "is" by "="
so now it becomes a mathematical statement:
17 = -3 +x
Now solve for "x"
Please share your work with us .
If you are stuck at the beginning tell us and we'll start with the definitions.
You need to read the rules of this forum. Please read the post titled "Read before Posting" at the following URL:
http://www.freemathhelp.com/forum/th...217#post322217
Bob Brown MSEE
Full Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2012
- Messages
- 598
HallsofIvy
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2012
- Messages
- 7,763
1) This is not an algebra question- it is integer arithmetic. 2) There is NO equation. 3) What is 3 more than 17?
in other words ...
What does "less than" mean?
If you have less than your brother of something, it is pretty clear what "less than" means, it means HE HAS MORE!
(That could be good or bad.)
To have "less" could mean "fewer than", "shorter than", "smaller than" ... depending on what you are talking about. Most importantly, in math, it means "the the left of" on the number line. That is the critical thing I think, learning to think of the meaning of these "less than", "greater than", "equal to" statements by thinking about what they mean on the number line.
So, if you have 17 of something, and you have "less than" your brother by 3, how much does he have anyway? Count up from 17 by three on the number line.
What does "less than" mean?
If you have less than your brother of something, it is pretty clear what "less than" means, it means HE HAS MORE!
(That could be good or bad.)To have "less" could mean "fewer than", "shorter than", "smaller than" ... depending on what you are talking about. Most importantly, in math, it means "the the left of" on the number line. That is the critical thing I think, learning to think of the meaning of these "less than", "greater than", "equal to" statements by thinking about what they mean on the number line.
So, if you have 17 of something, and you have "less than" your brother by 3, how much does he have anyway? Count up from 17 by three on the number line.
As Subhotosh Khan gave hints, this problem can be framed as an algebra question.
You, or many beginning algebra students, may just instantly see the answer and
think it is to be done essentially by arithmetic. But the challenge for
the pre-algebra/beginning algebra student is to learn how to set it up into an algebra problem.
Denis, it would be the odd algebraic problem to be presented that way.
Here is a very typical form of the question that would be used:
"17 is 3 less than a number. \(\displaystyle \ \ \) Find the number. "
And the instructor could then lay out what parts that the student needs to show, for example:
1) Choose a variable for your unknown with a "let" statement.
2) Write an equation using the variable that can be used to solve for the unknown.
3) Solve the equation.
4) Possibly check the solution in the original equation.