What is five less than twice a number?

Decoding Math: What Exactly Is “Five Less Than Twice a Number?”

Ever stumbled across a math problem that sounds like a riddle? Phrases like “five less than twice a number” can seem a bit cryptic at first glance. But trust me, cracking this code is way easier than you think, and it unlocks a whole new level of algebra superpowers! It’s all about translating those words into a mathematical expression we can actually work with. So, let’s break it down, shall we?

Peeling Back the Layers

Okay, so what does “five less than twice a number” really mean? It’s an algebraic expression, plain and simple. We’re talking variables, multiplication, and a little subtraction thrown in for good measure. To nail this, we need to get the order right. Think of it like following a recipe – mess up the steps, and you might end up with a cake that looks more like a pancake.

• “A number”: This is the mystery ingredient, the thing we don’t know yet. In algebra-speak, we call that a variable. Let’s stick with the classic ‘x’ for now.
• “Twice a number”: Easy peasy – just double it! So, ‘x’ becomes ‘2x’.
• “Five less than”: Ah, here’s where it gets a tiny bit tricky. This means we’re subtracting 5, but after we’ve doubled the number. It’s like saying, “Take your doubled number, and then take away five.”

So, putting it all together, “five less than twice a number” transforms into this neat little expression: