explain mathematical expression for each phrases like 3 less than a number x
Assistance needed.
x - 3
To express the mathematical expression for the phrase "3 less than a number x", you need to understand the meaning of the words and translate them into mathematical symbols.
Let's break it down:
1. "A number": This refers to a general unknown quantity that we represent with a variable. In this case, the variable is represented by 'x'.
2. "3 less than": The word "less than" usually means subtraction. So, we need to subtract 3 from the number 'x'.
Combining these two elements, the mathematical expression for "3 less than a number x" can be written as:
x - 3
In this expression, 'x' represents the unknown number, and subtracting 3 from 'x' expresses the concept of "3 less than".