what does the x mean in 3x

x is a varible and 3x means 3*x

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5th grade

Course: 5th grade > Unit 13

Lesson 2: Number patterns

Algebraic thinking: FAQ

Google Classroom

Frequently asked questions about algebraic thinking.

What are parentheses used for in algebraic expressions?

Parentheses help us group terms together and clarify the order of operations. For example, in the expression

2 \times (3 x + 1)

, we would first add

3 x

and

1

together, and then multiply the sum by

2

Try it yourself with this exercise:

Evaluate expressions with parentheses

Why do we need to translate expressions with parentheses?

Translating expressions with parentheses helps us understand what the expression is trying to communicate. For example, we might translate

2 x \times (3 x + 1)

to "add the sum of

3 x

and

1

, then multiply

2 x

by the sum".

Try it yourself with this exercise:

Translate expressions with parentheses

How do we create expressions with parentheses?

It's all about grouping terms together. For example, we might write

2 x + 3 x + 1

2 x + (3 x + 1)

to show that we want to add

3 x

and

1

together first, before adding

2 x

Try it yourself with this exercise:

Create expressions with parentheses

How do we find relationships between two patterns?

To find relationships between two patterns, we look for similarities or differences. For example, we might notice that the pattern

2 x + 1

always gives us an odd number, while the pattern

2 x

always gives us an even number.

Try it yourself with these exercises:

Is algebraic thinking useful in the real world?

Absolutely! Algebraic thinking helps us understand relationships between quantities, which is useful in a wide range of fields, from engineering to finance.

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Miss H
Posted 10 months ago. Direct link to Miss H's post “There is a mistake in the...”
There is a mistake in the first paragraph. In the expression 2x+(3x+1) we would first add 3x and 1 together, but then you would add 2x, not multiply by 2.
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- qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm (Andy Zhang )
  Posted 8 months ago. Direct link to qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm (Andy Zhang )'s post “yes, its 2x , not 2 times...”
  yes, its 2x , not 2 times.
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DeclanS
Posted a year ago. Direct link to DeclanS's post “what does the x mean in 3...”
what does the x mean in 3x
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- yangja
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DAVIDM
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yall know what is 585497485046+890386738967893-839846396893(7686765+6876545)
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- Nola
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What doses the x mean in x3
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Posted 9 months ago. Direct link to HollandH's post “What does the x mean?”
What does the x mean?
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