How do you write the algebraic expression: a number t divided by 3?

2 Answers
Jun 15, 2017

#t/3 or t div 3#

Explanation:

What you want to show is that you are taking #t# and performing division by the number 3. There are two ways to show division of a number by another number:

#"number"/"another number"#

Or:

#"number " div " another number"#

So we can write "t divided by 3" as:

#t/3 or t div 3#

Final Answer

Jun 15, 2017

#t div 3or t/3#

Explanation:

Many students find algebra confusing at the beginning, because it feels like you are not giving a final answer.

With numbers: 'What is #24 div 3?#' has an exact final answer of #8#.

#24 div 3=8#

But you are being asked for an 'expression' which will usually consist of numbers and variables.

We can choose any variable to represent 'a number'.
We are told to use #t# for #"a number"#

That number is to be divided by #3#

This is written as #t div 3#

In algebra it is usually given as a fraction: #t/3#

Note that this is the answer, we cannot simplify further until we know a value for #t#.