The problem
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Three times a number subtracted from 5
Answer provided by our tutors
The wording of "Three times a number subtracted from 5" is ambiguous and could mean either:
"5-3n" (three times a number is subtracted from 5)
or
"3(5-n)" (three times by a number subtracted from 5)
The letter 'n' is commonly used algebraically for 'a number'.