Deepa says ' $3 y$ and $y + 3$ mean the same thing'. Which choice corrects her?

Class 6AlgebraAlgebra

Step-by-Step Solution

A number written next to a letter always means multiplication, so

3 y = 3 \times y

. Test with

y = 5 : 3 y = 15

but

y + 3 = 8

. Confusing

3 n

with

n + 3

is one of the most common slips when algebra begins.

Answer: C) She is wrong;

3 y

means

3 \times y

, while

y + 3

means 3 added to

y

To evaluate an expression, **substitute** a value for the variable and compute. If

x = 5

, then

2 x + 3

becomes

2 \times 5 + 3 = 10 + 3 = 13

. The same expression with

x = 0

gives

2 \times 0 + 3 = 3

. Practise substituting — it is the bridge between an algebraic expression and a real number.

Don't just memorise the answer — build a daily practice habit.