What does the notation 2b represent?

What does the notation 2b represent?

• A. 2 plus b.
• B. 2 multiplied by b.
• C. b squared.
• D. b divided by 2.

Answer: (B)

When a number sits directly in front of a letter, it means multiplication. So 2b is 2 times b—the product of 2 and b. It’s not addition (which would be 2 + b), not squaring (which would be b^2), and not division (which would be b/2). For example, if b equals 5, 2b equals 10; if b equals -3, 2b equals -6.

When a number sits directly in front of a letter, it means multiplication. So 2b is 2 times b—the product of 2 and b. It’s not addition (which would be 2 + b), not squaring (which would be b^2), and not division (which would be b/2). For example, if b equals 5, 2b equals 10; if b equals -3, 2b equals -6.