Question

Translate the phrase into a math expression.

12 less than twice a number

A.
2 · (n – 12)

B.
2 · n - 12

C.
2 · n ÷ 12

D.
12 – 2 · n

Answer 1

They want the number here to be n. Twice this is 2*n=2n, and subtract makes it 2n-12. Hence B.

Answer 2

\[
\color{brown}{\overbrace{\text{12 less than }}^{-12}}
\color{green}{\overbrace{\text{twice }}^{2\cdot}}
\color{teal }{\overbrace{\text{a number}}^n}\\
=\color{brown}{-12}
+\color{green}{2\cdot}
\color{teal} n\\\hspace{6em} \textit{<rearranging>}\\
=\color{green}{2\cdot}\color{teal} n\color{brown}{-12}\]