18 more than two times a number
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The expression for “18 more than two times a number” is:
2x + 18
Explanation (300 words):
The phrase “18 more than two times a number” describes a mathematical expression made up of two parts: a multiplication and an addition. To understand and correctly translate this into an algebraic expression, begin by identifying the unknown value. In algebra, an unknown number is usually represented by a variable such as x.
The term “two times a number” means the number is being multiplied by 2. In algebraic form, this is written as 2x. The next part of the phrase is “18 more than,” which tells us that 18 is being added to something. The word “more than” in math usually signals addition, and it also indicates that the number being added (18) comes after what it is being added to. That means the expression should be written as 2x + 18 and not 18 + 2x (though both give the same result, 2x + 18 best reflects the wording).
It is important to be careful when interpreting math phrases because the order of words matters. For example, “18 more than” is different from “18 times.” “More than” implies addition, and “times” implies multiplication. Also, if a question said “18 more than a number times 2,” it would still be 2x + 18, because it simply describes multiplying a number by 2, then adding 18.
Such expressions are useful in solving word problems or creating equations from real-life situations. For example, if a person earns twice the number of hours they work plus a bonus of 18 dollars, the total earnings can be modeled by 2x + 18. Translating words into algebra helps in understanding and solving problems efficiently.