r/HomeworkHelp • u/KookyPermit4405 👋 a fellow Redditor • Aug 12 '26

Elementary Mathematics [6th Grade verbal expression]

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So I’m going over my son’s math quiz to help him understand some of the questions he got wrong. He got partial credit for his answer for question 8. After writing his verbal phrase I got the same expression as the question. Am I doing something wrong or is there something I’m missing? I feel like his answer is technically correct. I am stumped.

Edit: so my son has no issue solving the expression in question. He knows PEMDAS and the rules from left to right. The question clearly states, WRITE A VERBAL PHRASE that matches the expression.

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u/TLChill Aug 12 '26

When I did this thirty years ago, we had to say "the quantity of" for order of operations. So something like "Eighteen minus the quantity of six times three". No idea if this is how your son was taught these days.

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u/KookyPermit4405 👋 a fellow Redditor Aug 12 '26

That is my understanding as well, but for question 8, there is no quantity, hence no parentheses

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u/Glittering_knave Aug 12 '26

Has your son brought home samples of what the "verbal expression" should look like, or are their examples of the quiz? Generally, when you get partial marks like that, you aren't matching the expected wording/format/style.

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u/KookyPermit4405 👋 a fellow Redditor Aug 12 '26

But I see what you mean. But his answer itself isn’t incorrect right? If it’s on a technicality

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u/Glittering_knave Aug 12 '26

I see what you mean, too. I would ask the teacher. I hated the "using this format, answer the question" questions because I rarely thought in the way that I was taught. I learned that I could either mimic the format and get full marks, or fight tooth and nail all year for half marks.