Help with two verbal expressions?

Question

anonymous · Answer

The sum of a number and eight times the same number.

anonymous · Answer

The difference of 40 and a number, split into 5 equal parts.

nincompoop · Answer

sum is + 

example: 
sum of a number and four times the same number 

let us designate the number as "n"

 n + 4*n

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difference is - (minus) 

example: difference of a number and half the same number 

let us designate the number as "n" again since it can be any number. you can use any letter or symbol destination you want.

 n - 1/2(n)

nincompoop · Answer

@Ashja coocoobird, are you alive?

anonymous · Answer

Attempting to comprehend what you did for question 2

anonymous · Answer

ok is that 
x+8x=40-x/5

anonymous · Answer

@Ashja  is dead now ???

anonymous · Answer

$n - \frac{1}{2}n$ is just $n - (0.5 * n)$

nincompoop · Answer

@anickyan coocoobird,  converting fraction to decimal makes a huge difference in representation of expression?

anonymous · Answer

@nincompoo, I thought it might have been that which threw her off in the answer to question two.

anonymous · Answer

So I just tried to explain it simpler.