Question

How do you write the mathematical expression for “$10$ less than $14$”?

Answer 1

Algebraic term or the operation for the phrase “less than” is represented by “$-$ sign”, that is a subtraction operation. And the meaning of the phrase “less than” is the number present at the left side of the phrase is being subtracted from the number present at the right side of the phrase.
Use this information to write the mathematical expression for the given word phrase.

Complete step by step solution:
In order to express the given phrase “$10$ less than $14$” mathematically, we should have information about what types of mathematical operations are being performed in this phrase. In the phrase
“$10$ less than $14$”
We can see that there is only one mathematical operation is being performed in the phrase that is “less than”, let us see what “less than” means in terms of algebra
The phrase “x less than y” represents the algebraic expression “$y - x$”
That is the first term which is on the left side of the operational phrase “less than” is being subtracted from the second term which is on the right side.
So from above information we can express the phrase mathematically as
“$10$ less than $14$”$= 14 - 10$
And if we want to perform the operation then the result will be $14 - 10 = 4$

Note: Commutative and distributive properties are applicable in the word phrases too, and also once again only applicable for multiplication and addition and not for division and subtraction, because that will change the whole meaning of the phrase and eventually affects the result.