what is the number three times less than 8

Lyra Rowan

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29-09-2024

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What's Three Times Less Than 8? Demystifying the Math

Many people find themselves confused when faced with wording like "three times less than". It might sound contradictory, but with a little understanding, the problem becomes clear. Let's break it down.

The Question:

"What is the number three times less than 8?"

The Brainly Solution:

This question was originally posted on Brainly, a platform for students to ask and answer homework questions. A user named "anonymous" provided the following solution:

"Three times less than 8 is the same as saying 8 minus three times 8. So the answer is:

8 - (3 * 8) = 8 - 24 = -16"

Understanding the Solution:

The key here is to understand that "three times less than" means subtracting three times the original number. This is different from "three times smaller than," which would involve division.

Let's illustrate with an example:

Imagine you have 8 apples. If you want to have three times fewer apples, you would need to take away three times the original amount, or 3 * 8 = 24 apples.

However, you can't have negative apples! This is where the wording gets tricky. The solution provided by the Brainly user technically addresses the mathematical operation, but it doesn't make practical sense in this context.

The Takeaway:

When dealing with "three times less than," it's crucial to remember:

1. It implies subtraction.
2. It means subtracting three times the original number.

However, consider the context of the problem. If the problem involves real-world quantities, like apples, the solution must be realistic. In that case, you can't have negative apples, so the answer would be that you have no apples left.

Key takeaway: Pay close attention to wording in math problems, and remember that there are often practical limitations to consider beyond the purely mathematical solution.