What would be the correct algebraic expression for this question?
$begingroup$
Jasmine bought 2 pounds of apples at $$3 per pound and 4 pounds of bananas at $1 per pound.
Write an algebraic expression for the cost of Jasmine's purchase.
What would be the correct algebraic expression for the above question?
Would it be
a) ( 3 x 2 ) + (1 x 4)
OR
b) 3a + 1b
Would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.
algebra-precalculus
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Jasmine bought 2 pounds of apples at $$3 per pound and 4 pounds of bananas at $1 per pound.
Write an algebraic expression for the cost of Jasmine's purchase.
What would be the correct algebraic expression for the above question?
Would it be
a) ( 3 x 2 ) + (1 x 4)
OR
b) 3a + 1b
Would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.
algebra-precalculus
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
Pounds here, pounds there. What a confusing question. To begin with, change pounds for kilos...or pounds for dollars, pesos or rubles
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
Jan 21 at 23:42
1
$begingroup$
You are correct in both cases. Case $b$ is the general case and case $a$ is your specific case.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
@JohnDouma why would b) be the correct general case rather than $2c + 1b$ or $2c + 4d$ or $3a + 4d$ or $ac + 4$ or $ac + 4d$ or $6 + bd$ or... or $ac + bd$. You have zero unknowns and four knowns. why would you apply any variables?
$endgroup$
– fleablood
Jan 22 at 0:28
$begingroup$
@fleablood I guess the prices could also fluctuate. Still, the answer given is correct.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 22 at 0:45
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Jasmine bought 2 pounds of apples at $$3 per pound and 4 pounds of bananas at $1 per pound.
Write an algebraic expression for the cost of Jasmine's purchase.
What would be the correct algebraic expression for the above question?
Would it be
a) ( 3 x 2 ) + (1 x 4)
OR
b) 3a + 1b
Would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.
algebra-precalculus
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
$endgroup$
Jasmine bought 2 pounds of apples at $$3 per pound and 4 pounds of bananas at $1 per pound.
Write an algebraic expression for the cost of Jasmine's purchase.
What would be the correct algebraic expression for the above question?
Would it be
a) ( 3 x 2 ) + (1 x 4)
OR
b) 3a + 1b
Would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you in advance.
algebra-precalculus
algebra-precalculus
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
edited Jan 22 at 0:35
Robert Soupe
11.2k21950
11.2k21950
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
asked Jan 21 at 23:40
PearlPearl
374
374
1
$begingroup$
Pounds here, pounds there. What a confusing question. To begin with, change pounds for kilos...or pounds for dollars, pesos or rubles
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
Jan 21 at 23:42
1
$begingroup$
You are correct in both cases. Case $b$ is the general case and case $a$ is your specific case.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
@JohnDouma why would b) be the correct general case rather than $2c + 1b$ or $2c + 4d$ or $3a + 4d$ or $ac + 4$ or $ac + 4d$ or $6 + bd$ or... or $ac + bd$. You have zero unknowns and four knowns. why would you apply any variables?
$endgroup$
– fleablood
Jan 22 at 0:28
$begingroup$
@fleablood I guess the prices could also fluctuate. Still, the answer given is correct.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 22 at 0:45
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
Pounds here, pounds there. What a confusing question. To begin with, change pounds for kilos...or pounds for dollars, pesos or rubles
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
Jan 21 at 23:42
1
$begingroup$
You are correct in both cases. Case $b$ is the general case and case $a$ is your specific case.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
@JohnDouma why would b) be the correct general case rather than $2c + 1b$ or $2c + 4d$ or $3a + 4d$ or $ac + 4$ or $ac + 4d$ or $6 + bd$ or... or $ac + bd$. You have zero unknowns and four knowns. why would you apply any variables?
$endgroup$
– fleablood
Jan 22 at 0:28
$begingroup$
@fleablood I guess the prices could also fluctuate. Still, the answer given is correct.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 22 at 0:45
1
1
$begingroup$
Pounds here, pounds there. What a confusing question. To begin with, change pounds for kilos...or pounds for dollars, pesos or rubles
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
Jan 21 at 23:42
$begingroup$
Pounds here, pounds there. What a confusing question. To begin with, change pounds for kilos...or pounds for dollars, pesos or rubles
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
Jan 21 at 23:42
1
1
$begingroup$
You are correct in both cases. Case $b$ is the general case and case $a$ is your specific case.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
You are correct in both cases. Case $b$ is the general case and case $a$ is your specific case.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
@JohnDouma why would b) be the correct general case rather than $2c + 1b$ or $2c + 4d$ or $3a + 4d$ or $ac + 4$ or $ac + 4d$ or $6 + bd$ or... or $ac + bd$. You have zero unknowns and four knowns. why would you apply any variables?
$endgroup$
– fleablood
Jan 22 at 0:28
$begingroup$
@JohnDouma why would b) be the correct general case rather than $2c + 1b$ or $2c + 4d$ or $3a + 4d$ or $ac + 4$ or $ac + 4d$ or $6 + bd$ or... or $ac + bd$. You have zero unknowns and four knowns. why would you apply any variables?
$endgroup$
– fleablood
Jan 22 at 0:28
$begingroup$
@fleablood I guess the prices could also fluctuate. Still, the answer given is correct.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 22 at 0:45
$begingroup$
@fleablood I guess the prices could also fluctuate. Still, the answer given is correct.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 22 at 0:45
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Since they're asking for the cost of Jasmine's purchase, I would go with choice (a), since it represents the total cost: $(3 times 2) + (1 times 4)$.
That being said, if it's a short-answer homework question, then I'd cover my bases and put the general case and explain the substitution of 2 for a and 4 for b.
Hope this helps!
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Double check the definition of "algebraic expression" in whatever textbook/workbook you are using. Usually, an algebraic expression is defined as being built from constants, variables (a, b, etc), and algebraic operations (+, -, *, /, ^).
Given the above definition for algebraic expression, I would say:
3a + 1b
is the correct answer.
It seems to me that the question is testing whether or not the student can pick-out which numbers are the coefficients and which numbers are specific instances of the variables.
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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oldest
votes
$begingroup$
Since they're asking for the cost of Jasmine's purchase, I would go with choice (a), since it represents the total cost: $(3 times 2) + (1 times 4)$.
That being said, if it's a short-answer homework question, then I'd cover my bases and put the general case and explain the substitution of 2 for a and 4 for b.
Hope this helps!
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Since they're asking for the cost of Jasmine's purchase, I would go with choice (a), since it represents the total cost: $(3 times 2) + (1 times 4)$.
That being said, if it's a short-answer homework question, then I'd cover my bases and put the general case and explain the substitution of 2 for a and 4 for b.
Hope this helps!
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Since they're asking for the cost of Jasmine's purchase, I would go with choice (a), since it represents the total cost: $(3 times 2) + (1 times 4)$.
That being said, if it's a short-answer homework question, then I'd cover my bases and put the general case and explain the substitution of 2 for a and 4 for b.
Hope this helps!
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
$endgroup$
Since they're asking for the cost of Jasmine's purchase, I would go with choice (a), since it represents the total cost: $(3 times 2) + (1 times 4)$.
That being said, if it's a short-answer homework question, then I'd cover my bases and put the general case and explain the substitution of 2 for a and 4 for b.
Hope this helps!
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
answered Jan 22 at 0:25
elder4222elder4222
134
134
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Double check the definition of "algebraic expression" in whatever textbook/workbook you are using. Usually, an algebraic expression is defined as being built from constants, variables (a, b, etc), and algebraic operations (+, -, *, /, ^).
Given the above definition for algebraic expression, I would say:
3a + 1b
is the correct answer.
It seems to me that the question is testing whether or not the student can pick-out which numbers are the coefficients and which numbers are specific instances of the variables.
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Double check the definition of "algebraic expression" in whatever textbook/workbook you are using. Usually, an algebraic expression is defined as being built from constants, variables (a, b, etc), and algebraic operations (+, -, *, /, ^).
Given the above definition for algebraic expression, I would say:
3a + 1b
is the correct answer.
It seems to me that the question is testing whether or not the student can pick-out which numbers are the coefficients and which numbers are specific instances of the variables.
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Double check the definition of "algebraic expression" in whatever textbook/workbook you are using. Usually, an algebraic expression is defined as being built from constants, variables (a, b, etc), and algebraic operations (+, -, *, /, ^).
Given the above definition for algebraic expression, I would say:
3a + 1b
is the correct answer.
It seems to me that the question is testing whether or not the student can pick-out which numbers are the coefficients and which numbers are specific instances of the variables.
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
$endgroup$
Double check the definition of "algebraic expression" in whatever textbook/workbook you are using. Usually, an algebraic expression is defined as being built from constants, variables (a, b, etc), and algebraic operations (+, -, *, /, ^).
Given the above definition for algebraic expression, I would say:
3a + 1b
is the correct answer.
It seems to me that the question is testing whether or not the student can pick-out which numbers are the coefficients and which numbers are specific instances of the variables.
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
answered Jan 22 at 0:44
themathochistthemathochist
13
13
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
$begingroup$
Pounds here, pounds there. What a confusing question. To begin with, change pounds for kilos...or pounds for dollars, pesos or rubles
$endgroup$
– DonAntonio
Jan 21 at 23:42
1
$begingroup$
You are correct in both cases. Case $b$ is the general case and case $a$ is your specific case.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 21 at 23:57
$begingroup$
@JohnDouma why would b) be the correct general case rather than $2c + 1b$ or $2c + 4d$ or $3a + 4d$ or $ac + 4$ or $ac + 4d$ or $6 + bd$ or... or $ac + bd$. You have zero unknowns and four knowns. why would you apply any variables?
$endgroup$
– fleablood
Jan 22 at 0:28
$begingroup$
@fleablood I guess the prices could also fluctuate. Still, the answer given is correct.
$endgroup$
– John Douma
Jan 22 at 0:45