algebraic expression

Question

The short sides of a rectangle are 2 inches. The long sides of the same rectangle are three less than a certain number of inches.

Sketch and label the sides of this rectangle. Use an algebraic expression to represent the length of the long sides.

Answer 1

The short sides are 2 in.

The long sides are 3 less than a certain number of inches.

Let's call that certain number of inches x.

So each long side has a length of 3 less than x.

3 less than x can be expressed as x - 3 (if we imagine x were 10, 3 less than 10 is 7... or 10 - 3).

So in drawing the rectangle, the short sides would be 2 inches on each side, and the long sides would be x - 3 inches on both sides.

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