document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=918816>Question 918816</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A math professor tells me that the problem: \"the difference of 9 and 3 times a number is 69 is written -9 + 3x = 69\" I agree but on another site it states it is 9 - 3x = 69? If I read the math words correctly difference is subtraction thus -9, and means addition, which makes sense with what the professor stated instead of what I saw on another site. Which is correct?  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #557264 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39617)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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=557264\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Ambiguity is a problem.  Either equation can be good.  The professor should express the description without ambiguity, but did not.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "\"the difference of 9 and 3 times a number...\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Put into symbolism is this:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=abs%289-3x%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"abs%289-3x%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Analyze the whole question further.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight_green%28abs%289-3x%29=69%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight_green%28abs%289-3x%29=69%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  THAT is what should be formed, based on the worded description.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If you want to solve that for x, you could first simplify, dividing left and right members by 3:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%281%2F3%29abs%289-3x%29=69 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%281%2F3%29abs%289-3x%29=69\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=abs%283-x%29=23 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"abs%283-x%29=23\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "And from that, you have the two different cases,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%283-x=23%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%283-x=23%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=red%28OR%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"red%28OR%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%28-%283-x%29=23%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%28-%283-x%29=23%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > </SPAN>\n" );
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