# Thread: Basic factoring

1. ## Basic factoring

The square of a number minus twice the number is 48 . Find the number ?

What does " a number minus twice " mean ?

2. $a^2 - 2a = 48$

"a number minus twice" means nothing. "twice the number" means 2 times a number

3. Thanks

4. "A number minus twice" is a common phrase I've heard as well, and did confuse me in the question paper, it does mean literally "minus twice" so minus it and minus it again, which would look like -2x. x being "a number" so "7 minus a number twice" would be 7-2x
I love english, the grammer makes maths so much harder.

5. Originally Posted by sxsniper
I love english, the grammer makes maths so much harder.

6. Originally Posted by sxsniper
"A number minus twice" is a common phrase I've heard as well,
I disagree. It is simply bad grammar.
and did confuse me in the question paper, it does mean literally "minus twice" so minus it and minus it again, which would look like -2x. x being "a number" so "7 minus a number twice" would be 7-2x
I love english, the grammer makes maths so much harder.
You said "minus a number twice" which is NOT the same as "minus twice".

7. To be honest I think you're confusing things, the answer he's after is a^2-2x=48, no matter how badly written it is.

*Edit* Yeah that's badly written I'm totally confused now, thought I figured it out until you posted

8. Originally Posted by sxsniper
To be honest I think you're confusing things, the answer he's after is a^2-2x=48, no matter how badly written it is.

*Edit* Yeah that's badly written I'm totally confused now, thought I figured it out until you posted
Actually, I think you mean either $\displaystyle a^2 - 2a = 48$ or $\displaystyle x^2 - 2x = 48$ :P

9. Yeah that one! Makes sense now. I just confuse my self on purpose sometimes. I swear I'm just testing myself.