Translating 'five times the sum of and ' versus 'the sum of five times and '
When a phrase contains multiple operation keywords, the order and grouping of the words determine whether parentheses are needed:
(a) "Five times the sum of and ": The word times signals multiplication and sum signals addition. Because multiplication applies to the entire sum, parentheses must enclose so that addition is performed first: $5(m + n)m{5}$.
(b) "The sum of five times and ": Here, sum is the main operation and the words of and and identify what is being added: "five times " (which is $5mn. No parentheses are needed because multiplication is performed before addition by the standard order of operations: $5m + n.
Although both phrases use the same words (five, times, sum, , ), rearranging those words produces two different expressions—$5(m+n) versus $5m + n—highlighting the importance of reading carefully for structure.
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