Question

which verbal expression represents the following expression? 3(4 - x) three times four less than a number x four minus the number x divided by 3 four minus x multiplied by three three times the quantity x less than four

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the expression \( 3(4 - x) \)

The expression has a factor of 3 multiplying the quantity \( (4 - x) \). The quantity \( (4 - x) \) can be verbalized as "x less than four" (since \( 4 - x \) means subtracting x from 4, or x is less than 4 by that amount). Then, multiplying this quantity by 3 gives "three times the quantity x less than four".

Step2: Evaluate each option

• Option 1: "three times four less than a number x" would be \( 3(x - 4) \), not \( 3(4 - x) \).
• Option 2: "four minus the number x divided by 3" would be \( \frac{4 - x}{3} \), not \( 3(4 - x) \).
• Option 3: "four minus x multiplied by three" could be misinterpreted as \( 4 - 3x \) (if order of operations is not considered), but our expression is \( 3(4 - x) \), which is three times the quantity \( 4 - x \), not \( 4 - 3x \).
• Option 4: "three times the quantity x less than four" correctly represents \( 3(4 - x) \), as it first describes the quantity \( 4 - x \) (x less than four) and then multiplies that quantity by 3.

Answer:

fourth option: three times the quantity x less than four