Which expression represents: the difference of y and 8?

Question

Which expression represents: the difference of y and 8? 

a. y - 8

b. y + 8

c. 8 - y

d. 8y

Answer 1

Probably a) y-8

b) and d) are clearly wrong

But c) is possible depending on the context

"difference" often is used as the absolute value as in "distance"

the distance between two numbers is the same whether you subtract one from the other or the reverse

5-3 = 2, and 3-5 = -2 but if you ignore the direction, then take the absolute value of -2 to get 2, and they are the same.