SOLUTION: 4 less than d how do I know what d is or how do I find out. these symbols and letters are confusing. 4 is four d is d 4 less than d would it be a or 1? could you please help m

Algebra ->  Systems-of-equations -> SOLUTION: 4 less than d how do I know what d is or how do I find out. these symbols and letters are confusing. 4 is four d is d 4 less than d would it be a or 1? could you please help m      Log On


   

Question 448046: 4 less than d how do I know what d is or how do I find out. these symbols and letters are confusing. 4 is four d is d 4 less than d would it be a or 1? could you please help me solve this step by step.
Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


You aren't making sense the way you are presenting your question. Are you trying to say "4 is less than " or are you trying to represent a quantity that is 4 less than ?

4 is less than



is a quantity that is 4 less than



In the first case you are simply saying that is some number larger than 4. It could be 4.000000000000000001 (or as close to 4 as you like without actually being 4) or it could be 40 gazillion. You don't know, and at this point you don't care.

In the second case you are saying that there is a relationship between and such that whatever happens to be is exactly 4 less. So if happens to be 1 for example, then is 4 less than that or -3. Or if then . Again you don't know what is, nor do you care.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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