Question

Your teacher asked you to represent 3 more than 8 multiplied by a number t as an expression. You wrote 3 + 8t, and your friend wrote 11t.

Are both answers the same? If not, then who is correct? Can a verbal description of a mathematical situation like the one the teacher presented have more than one correct interpretation? Explain.

Answer 1

Both answers are not the same. You are correct and your friend is wrong. The situation your teacher gave could have only one other interpretation that would be acceptable and that would be 8t+3 because it is the same number just in a different order.