How do you define a variable and write an expression for each phrase: the total of four times a number and twice the difference between the number and four?

1 Answer
Mar 25, 2018

first phrase: 4x
seconds phrase: 2(x-4)

Explanation:

Let us define the variable 'the number' as x.
x can be any number, which is why it is called a variable.

The first phrase, 'four times a number', is expressed as 4x. Literally, 4*x, or four times x.

The second phrase is harder, 'the difference between the number and 4' is simply our number subtract 4: x-4, but this is doubled, which becomes 2(x-4)

Hope this helps!