Chapter 1.2, Problem 42HP

To determine

To find: which person has written correctly for the given phrase

Answer to Problem 42HP

Ramon is correct

Explanation of Solution

Given:

"Five less than a number"

John Let n represent the number $5-n$

Ramon Let n represent the number $n-5$

Calculation:

To verify who has written the expression correctly, consider the phrase

"Five less than a number"

So let 'n' represent the number

Now, the word "less than" indicates subtracted from.

That is, it means 5 subtracted from the number which is n.

Thus, the correct expression is

  $\boxed{n-5}$

Hence Ramon is correct.

Conclusion:

Hence Ramon is correct.