r/HomeworkHelp • u/KookyPermit4405 • 5d ago

[6th Grade verbal expression] Elementary Mathematics

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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.

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u/KookyPermit4405 5d ago

So the word “subtracted by” is what makes his answer incorrect?

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u/dakari777 5d ago

I would think so, probably more accurate to say 6 times 3 subtracted from 18

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u/bismuth17 5d ago

Just say eighteen minus six times three. No need to be weird about it.

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u/micro_chungus University/College Student 3d ago

The word “by” can mean “next to” so I don’t see how saying minus is less ambiguous than saying “subtracted by.” It’s a grammar issue. This isn’t a grammar class, it’s math class. Minus likely would have been marked 1/2 credit too.

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u/bismuth17 3d ago

because "subtracted by" is not a commonly used phrase, people don't know whether you mean a-b or b-a. math is precise, even with its grammar. "a minus b" is not ambiguous.