How do you translate "18 more than a number" into a mathematical expression?

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Answer 1 · 2016-02-22T19:38:51

$n + 18$ $n+18$

$Let n represent the unknown number.$ $color(red)("Let "n" represent the unknown number.")$

So in this instance, whenever we come across the wording "a number", we can and may use the letter $n$ $n$ .

This is because we may assign to $n$ $n$ any value we so wish

The question uses the word 'expression'. This means that there is not an equals sign in what we write.

I use the symbol ? to indicate that something should be in that place. We just do not know what is yet. It will show up later.

Breaking the question down into its component parts:

18 more than: $\to ? + 18$ $->?+18$
a number: $\to n + 18$ $->n+18$

So we start with some unknown value and put a further 18 with it. So it becomes more.

Hope this helps