write an algebraic expression representing the phrase, the product of x and y decreased by twice z

Question

anonymous · Answer

xy - 2z

bhandarialex66 · Answer

so i wrote this in my test and my teacher gave it wrong

anonymous · Answer

tell your professor he's wrong lol

bhandarialex66 · Answer

i just wanted to check if i was wrong or i was right. So thank you very much

bhandarialex66 · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

or.... maybe it is wrong. The word problem says "twice z", could that mean Z squared? So the equation would then be xy - z^2. You would have the xponent of 2. I don't know that this is correct, but that is how I read the question....  :)

bhandarialex66 · Answer

no i searched everywhere and twice a variable means 2times a variable

anonymous · Answer

oh, ok

bhandarialex66 · Answer

but thanks for help though

whpalmer4 · Answer

Perhaps the teacher intended that you interpret it as the product of x and the quantity y decreased by 2z
$$x*(y-2z)=xy-2xz$$

Though I would argue the rules of operator precedence support your answer...