Question

How do you translate the word phrase into a variable expression: u decreased by 17?

Answer 1

`u-17`

Explanation:

First, you take your first term, which is the variable 'u' in this case, and put it first.

Look at your description of the word in between the two terms. Here, it says "decreased" which means to lower. This means you'll be subtracting. Words like decreased and minus mean subtraction. Words like added to or increased by mean addition.

Lastly, put your second term:

`u-17`

In other cases, phrases like 'subtracted from' mean to flip the order of your terms.

Answer 2

`u - 17`

Explanation:

Here is our phrase:

`"u decreased by 17"`

The key to this equation is to understand what "decreased by" means. When something increases, it gets larger. However, when something decreases, it gets smaller.

So u decreased by 17 means that it is shrinking by 17 parts .

Let's change it into an equation:

`stackreluoverbrace u stackrel(-)overbrace"decreased by" stackrel 17 overbrace 17"`

`u - 17`