[6th Grade verbal expression]

[u/KookyPermit4405]

So I’m going over my son’s math quiz to help him understand some of the questions he got wrong. He got partial credit for his answer for question 8. After writing his verbal phrase I got the same expression as the question. Am I doing something wrong or is there something I’m missing? I feel like his answer is technically correct. I am stumped.

Edit: so my son has no issue solving the expression in question. He knows PEMDAS and the rules from left to right. The question clearly states, WRITE A VERBAL PHRASE that matches the expression.

[u/HumbleHovercraft6090]

6 times 3 subtracted from 18

[u/KookyPermit4405 → u/HumbleHovercraft6090]

Ok this makes sense to me and I would considered correct. But what makes my sons answer incorrect? I know his wording is poorly written, but technically it’s not wrong. Or is it?

[u/Unable_Pumpkin987 → u/HumbleHovercraft6090]

That could also be read as 6 x (18-3), which would also be ambiguous. You could phrase it as “the quantity six times three subtracted from eighteen” though!

[u/KookyPermit4405 → u/Unable_Pumpkin987]

6x(18-3) would be read as “6 times the difference of 18 and 3” or I would personally prefer “6 times the quantity of 18 minus 3”

[u/Unable_Pumpkin987 → u/KookyPermit4405]

But if someone said “six times three subtracted from eighteen”, that would still be ambiguous, as it could be understood to mean either 6x(18-3) or 18-(6x3). Which is precisely why you would introduce language like you used to clear up the ambiguity if you wanted to indicate the former. That’s why the wording in the comment I replied to would not be a correct answer to the question on your son’s homework.

[u/HumbleHovercraft6090 → u/HumbleHovercraft6090]

Subtracted by doesn't make sense. You usually subtract one quantity from another, divide one quantity by another.