Final answer:
The correct translation of the statement "the difference of 3ab and 7bc" is A) 3ab - 7bc, because the word "difference" in a mathematical context refers to subtraction, and the term listed first is subtracted from the second.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct translation of the statement "the difference of 3ab and 7bc" is A) 3ab - 7bc. In a mathematical context, the word "difference" refers to the operation of subtraction. Therefore, when you see the word "difference" in a math problem or expression, you should be thinking of subtraction. In this case, the subtraction operation is happening between two terms: 3ab and 7bc. The term that is listed first, 3ab, is the one from which the second term, 7bc, is being subtracted. Therefore, the expression 3ab - 7bc accurately represents the statement "the difference of 3ab and 7bc".
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