document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=957892>Question 957892</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> \"CONCEPT REVIEW PROBLEMS\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I don't really understand this! Could someone really, explain me what should I do when I encounter this type of problems? I get stuck every time I see this.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "This is the problem: \"For all real numbers a and b, let a*b=a+3b. Compare: A. (2*0)*5 B. 2*(0*5).\"<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Possible answers: A if \"A\" is greater. B if \"B\" is greater. C if \"A\" is equal to \"B,\" and D if not sufficient information is given to figure out an answer at all.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I think I understand that \"*\" is only a symbol, not really the sign for multiplication. But I don't really know what to do. Help?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thank you in advance. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #585388 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=585388\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> everywhere you see a*b, you replace it with a + 3b\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "first we work with A = (2*0)*5\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2*0 is equal to 2 + 3(0) which is equal to 2.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "the expression becomes 2*5.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2*5 is equal to 2 + 3(5) which is equal to 2 + 15 which is equal to 17.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "A is equal to 17.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Now we work with B = 2*(0*5)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "0*5 is equal to 0 + 3(5) which is equal to 15.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "expression becomes 2*15.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2*15 is equal to 2 + 3(15) which is equal to 2 + 45 which is equal to 47.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "B is equal to 47.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "B is greater than A.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "that would be selection B.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "their use of * is unfortunate because * is already used to indicate multiplication which can cause great confusion if you're not aware of that.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "a different symbol would have been more appropriate.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "especially one that is not confused with other arithmetic symbols.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "a$b would have been better because then a$b would mean a + 3*b.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "this allows you to use the * the way it was originally intended to be and makes translating much clearer.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I'll do it again, but use $ this time instead of *.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "A = (2$0)$5\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2$0 = 2 + 3*0 = 2\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "expression becomes 2$5\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2$5 becomes 2 + 3*5 which becomes 17.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "because you are using the $ symbol rather than the * symbol, it allows you to use the * symbol the way it was intended to be used, eliminating the confusion.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "B = 2$(0$5)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "0$5 is equal to 0 + 3*5 which is equla to 15.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "expression becomes:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2$15\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2$15 is equal to 2 + 3 * 15 which is eqal to 2 + 45 which is equal to 47.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "they could really blow your mind when they use the same symbol to mean two different things.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );