document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=558834>Question 558834</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If x is nine less than seven and y is nine less seven, what is x less y? please explain </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #363226 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=363226\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x = 7 - 9 <---- this means 9 less than 7<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and this results in:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x = -2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "y = 9 - 7 <----- this means 9 less 7<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and this results in:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "y = +2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x - y <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and we can substitute -2 for its equal x and we can substitute +2 for its equal y and get the equation:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x - y = -2 - (+2)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x - y = -2 - 2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and on the right side the -2 and -2 combine to -4.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So the answer to this problem is that x less y equals -4.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I hope this helps you to understand the problem a little better.<BR>\n" );
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