SOLUTION: If x is nine less than seven and y is nine less seven, what is x less y? please explain

Question 558834: If x is nine less than seven and y is nine less seven, what is x less y? please explain
Answer by bucky(2189) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's think about this one. You are told that x equals 9 less than 7. That means that x is equal to 7 minus 9. When you take 9 from 7 the result is -2. So you can say that x equals -2. In equation form this is:
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x = 7 - 9 <---- this means 9 less than 7
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and this results in:
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x = -2
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Next you are told that y equals 9 less 7. That means that y is equal to 9 minus 7. When you subtract 7 from 9 the result is +2. So you can say that y equals +2. In equation form this is:
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y = 9 - 7 <----- this means 9 less 7
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and this results in:
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y = +2
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Now you are asked, "what is x less y?" This means, "what is x minus y?" We can write the expression for x less y as:
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x - y
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and we can substitute -2 for its equal x and we can substitute +2 for its equal y and get the equation:
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x - y = -2 - (+2)
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Because the parentheses around the +2 are preceded by a minus sign, when you remove the parentheses you change the +2 to a -2. So the equation becomes:
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x - y = -2 - 2
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and on the right side the -2 and -2 combine to -4.
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So the answer to this problem is that x less y equals -4.
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This problem is more an exercise in careful reading and interpreting what you are told than a matter of difficult mathematical procedures. 9 less than 7 is different from 9 less 7. The word "than" is a rather critical difference in terminology.
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I hope this helps you to understand the problem a little better.
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