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Expressions Videos 14 videos

ACT Math 4.4 Intermediate Algebra
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ACT Math: Intermediate Algebra Drill 4, Problem 4. Add these together.

ACT Math 5.4 Intermediate Algebra
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ACT Math: Intermediate Algebra: Drill 5, Problem 4. Which expression is equivalent?

ACT Math 5.3 Pre-Algebra
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ACT Math: Pre-Algebra Drill 5, Problem 3. Find the remainder.

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CAHSEE Math 2.1 Mathematical Reasoning 192 Views


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Description:

CAHSEE Math Mathematical Reasoning Drill 2, Problem 1. Which of the following expressions has a negative value?

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

And here's your shmoop du jour...

00:05

Given the fact that the numbers, represented by variables a and b, are both positive,

00:09

with a greater than b…which of the following expressions has a negative value?

00:16

Here are the potential answers…

00:20

Okay, so what is this question asking?

00:22

It’s really more of a conceptual question than an intricate algebra problem…

00:27

…they just want to make sure we can read and interpret what they’re saying.

00:30

So hopefully it isn’t all Greek to us. Let’s think about this logically.

00:35

We’ve got two numbers, represented by a and b… and they’re both positive.

00:39

a is bigger than b. So by adding, subtracting or multiplying them, we want to wind up with

00:44

a negative number.

00:46

Well, it should be obvious that addition and multiplication are out.

00:49

Adding or multiplying two positive numbers never gets us a negative result.

00:53

We’re now down to just B or C.

00:55

Well, what’s going to get us a negative number?

00:58

Taking a big number and subtracting a smaller number from it?

01:02

Or taking a small number and subtracting a bigger number from it?

01:06

We definitely want to subtract the bigger number… and since we’re told a is bigger…

01:10

…we’re going to want to take b minus a.

01:12

The answer is C.

01:14

As in, “Catty.”

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