Writing numerical expressions, step by step

"Add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2" is 2 × (8 + 7), and the bracket is the whole answer.

The question

Which expression is 3 times as large as 215 + 159?

Read it in order, then say which way round

= a number
adding
3 × (215 + 159)
  1. The phrase is "3 times as large as 215 + 159". The letter null is the number nobody has told us; everything else in the phrase says what to do to it.
  2. The words say we are adding.
  3. "more than" makes 215 bigger, so 215 is what is added to.

How it works.

  1. 01

    The phrase is "3 times as large as 215 + 159". The letter null is the number nobody has told us; everything else in the phrase says what to do to it.

  2. 02

    The words say we are adding.

  3. 03

    "more than" makes 215 bigger, so 215 is what is added to.