5.3t – (20 divided by 4) + 11, which part of the expression is a quotient? Describe its parts.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The part of the expression (20 divided by 4) is a quotient.
Explanation
In mathematics, a quotient is the result of a division problem. It represents how many times one number contains another. A basic division expression can be written as either a fraction (such as 20/4) or in a verbal format like “20 divided by 4.” Regardless of the form, both represent the same mathematical relationship and result.
In the given expression:
5.3t – (20 divided by 4) + 11,
we can identify and break down each part:
- 5.3t is a term where 5.3 is multiplied by the variable t.
- (20 divided by 4) is a division, and this is the quotient portion.
- +11 is a constant being added.
- The subtraction symbol – is operating between the first term and the quotient.
- Parentheses ensure that “20 divided by 4” is treated as a single unit in the order of operations.
Focusing on the quotient (20 divided by 4):
- The dividend is 20. This is the number being divided.
- The divisor is 4. This is the number we divide by.
- The quotient is 5, which is the result of dividing 20 by 4.
This part of the expression is important because division must be completed before subtraction or addition when following the correct order of operations (PEMDAS — Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division, Addition and Subtraction). Since it is enclosed in parentheses, it is handled first in computation.
Therefore, the expression includes one quotient — (20 divided by 4) — which consists of the dividend (20), the divisor (4), and the resulting quotient (5). Understanding this structure helps in evaluating and simplifying expressions accurately.
