Simple math equations

Question

Just a few questions about how these math equations are interpreted in English:
1.(a+b)x c=d
2.3*2/X*X

I wanna explain that,
I know that the first one is, formally, "the quantity a plus b times c equals to d, but is there a SHORTER way to say this?
I'm just wondering, because if the equation was longer, wouldn't it be such a colossal sentence to express it?
And as for the second equation,
is it "three times two over x squared?
Can it also be interpreted as ""the product of 3 times 2 over the square of X"?

Enoon · Accepted Answer

It is hard to put such things in English such that the words infallibly reproduce the equation. For instance, "Three times two over x squared" can be 3*2/x^2 or (3*2/x)^2. I'm not even sure it's always possible in anything like a concise form.

1. The quantity a plus b all times c equals d. (Without "all", you don't know where the quantity ends.)
2. Three times two over the square of x. (It doesn't matter whether the three is in the denominator or not.)

Never write "wanna".

Enoon · Answer

enoonIt doesn't matter whether the three is in the denominator or not.

Doh! I read that six times. NUMERATOR.

UltimatePedant · Answer

How about?
Add b to a. Multiply the result by c. Equate the result to d. You will never make it very succinct in narrative form. That is why we have mathematical notations.

The way you wrote the second expression (which isn't an equation) means:
Mutlply 3 by 2. Divide the result by X. Multply the result by X. This will always give you 6. You might have meant 2*3/(X*X).

CalifJim · Answer

chivalry(a+b)x c=d

a plus b the quantity times c equals d.
open paren a plus b close paren times c equals d.

chivalry3*2/X*X

three times two divided by X times X. ('times X' cancels 'divided by X' so this reduces to three times two.)

Multiplication and division are at the same level of computation so they are done in order from left to right unless there parentheses to block this.

(3*2)/X²

three times two the quantity divided by X squared.
open paren three times two close paren divided by X squared.

CJ

Chivalry · Answer

UltimatePedant How about?Add b to a. Multiply the result by c. Equate the result to d. You will never make it very succinct in narrative form. That is why we have mathematical notations.The way you wrote the second expression (which isn't an equation) means:Mutlply 3 by 2. Divide the result by X. Multply the result by X. This will always give you 6. You might have meant 2*3/(X*X).

I don't mean to judge and I mean absolutely no offense,
but your version seems somewhat less formal than the ones I usually SEE in English textbooks that explain mathematical topics.
Is this the way that American high school teachers speak in their math classes?
Because I can definitely be able to imagine the trouble of having to compose the most formal as well as complete
verbal expressions of complex math expressions.

(For example, for the expression of 2*3/(x*x)=y,
the FORMAL version I see would usually be
"the result of 2 times three divided by the square of x equals to y." or alike)

Chivalry · Answer

CalifJim open paren three times two close paren divided by X squared.CJ

I've never heard of such an expression.
Is it American English?
Under what circumstances will the state of parenthesis have to be included in interpretations?
Thanks in advance.

CalifJim · Answer

chivalryIs it American English?

It may be. I've heard it in math classes here. I don't know if they use that elsewhere.

chivalryUnder what circumstances will the state of parenthesis have to be included in interpretations?

Whenever that is necessary to avoid ambiguity.

CJ

Simple math equations

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions