Question

Which of the following expressions represents "three times the difference between t and y"?

y - 3t
3t - y
3(t - y)

Answer 1

3 ( t -y) represents "three times the difference between t and y"

Answer 2

answer is C. ............3(t - y)

Answer 3

The problem with interpreting English into math statement is English is a bit loose and math is very precise in that order of operations must be followed and is only overridden by ( ). So many times what you need to consider is if the English is implying the presence of some ( ), somethin overriding the standard order of operations.

In this case yes. "the difference between t and y" is trying to indicate to do this first, then multiply by 3 so yes 3(t-y).

The first might be " y less 3 times t"

The second might be "the difference of three times t and y"
notice the slight change in wording compared to the problem statement and how that changes the expression it corresponds to.