What 3n really means
The tile rule 4n + 1 has no times sign. Here are three ways to write "three lots of n." That means n taken three times.
n + n + n — three lots, spelled out. Step 1 of 3
n + n + n— three lots, spelled out.3 × n— three lots, with a times sign.3n— the times sign dropped. Same number.
Rule: a times sign between a number and a letter is dropped. Dropped means not written. 3 × n is written 3n — still three lots of n.
At n = 5, 3n = 3 × 5 = 15. It is not 35. The 3 and the 5 are not two digits of one number.
Pick a value for n. The lab compares 3n with the digits side by side.
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