<PRE><B>Question 1162294</B>
&lt;br&gt;
This is actually a bad example, because it is open to (at least) two different interpretations.&lt;br&gt;
In the statement there are three things:
(1) numbers or expressions
(2) mathematical operations
(3) an equals sign&lt;br&gt;
The task is to break the sentence down into those three kinds of things.&lt;br&gt;
If read or spoken normally, this sentence breaks down into&lt;br&gt;
(20) (subtracted from) (7 times a number) (is) (6)&lt;br&gt;
So if y is the number, 7 times the number is 7y; and 20 SUBTRACTED FROM 7y means you start with the 7y and subtract 20: 7y-20.&lt;br&gt;
The &quot;is&quot; is clearly the equals sign, so the mathematical equation is 7y-20 = 6.&lt;br&gt;
However, this sentence is open to another very different, although far less likely, interpretation.&lt;br&gt;
In written form, you could add commas to change the meaning:&lt;br&gt;
&quot;20, subtracted from 7, times a number, is 6&quot;&lt;br&gt;
In spoken form, you could accomplish the same thing using pauses in the reading:&lt;br&gt;
&quot;20 [pause] subtracted from 7 [pause] times a number [pause] is 6&quot;.&lt;br&gt;
In that interpretation, 20 is subtracted from 7; the result is multiplied by the number, and the final result is 6.&lt;br&gt;
Breaking the sentence into the three things as before, this gives us&lt;br&gt;
(20) (subtracted from) (7) (times) (a number) (is) (6):&lt;br&gt;
(7-20)*y = 6&lt;br&gt;
</PRE>