How do you translate "#5m^2+2#" into a verbal expression?

1 Answer
George C.
Jun 25, 2015

How about: "five times the square of #m#, plus two".

Without the comma it could mean #5(m+2)^2#

Or you could use: "multiply #m# by itself, multiply by five, then add two.

Explanation:

Even "two more than five times the square of #m#" could be misunderstood as #(5+2)m^2#

This all really highlights the ambiguity of our language when trying to describe precise mathematical expressions - which is why we tend to use symbols instead.

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