Question

How do you translate the words into a mathematical expression: the difference of 5 and twice x?

Answer 1

`rArr 5-2x " or "2x -5`

Explanation:

Look at each phrase separately:

"Twice `x` means x multiplied by 2. This is written as `2x`

The "DIFFERENCE" is the answer to a subtraction operation.
It is always used with the word "AND" indicating which two numbers must be subtracted.

The DIFFERENCE between 10 AND 7 `" "rArr " 10-7 = 3`

In the context of the question it does not matter which way the terms are subtracted.

The DIFFERENCE of 5 AND "twice x" is written as:

`rArr 5-2x " or "2x -5`