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

Jun 15, 2017

$\frac{t}{3} \mathmr{and} t \div 3$

#### 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:

$\text{number"/"another number}$

Or:

$\text{number " div " another number}$

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

$\frac{t}{3} \mathmr{and} t \div 3$

Jun 15, 2017

$t \div 3 \mathmr{and} \frac{t}{3}$

#### 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 $\text{a number}$

That number is to be divided by $3$

This is written as $t \div 3$

In algebra it is usually given as a fraction: $\frac{t}{3}$

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