Question

Which BEST explains the expression x( y z + 1 2 )? A) x depends on ( y z + 1 2 ). B) ( y z + 1 2 ) depends on x. C) x and ( y z + 1 2 ) are dependent on each other. D) x and ( y z + 1 2 ) are independent of each other.

Answer 1

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Answer:

  D)  x and ( y z + 1 2 ) are independent of each other

Step-by-step explanation:

Assuming this is not intended to be describing a function named x with an argument of yz+12, the variables in any expression are assumed to be independent of each other, unless additional information is provided showing their dependencies.

Here, there is no such additional information, so we must assume ...

  x and (yz +12) are independent of each other

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Additional comment

The assumption stated in the answer is intended to ensure we're not concerned with something of the form ...

  g(x)

which is an expression saying 'g' is dependent on 'x'. If we know 'g' is a function name, then g(yz+12) will make 'g' be dependent on (yz+12).

Similarly, if x(a) is intended to mean that x is a function of 'a', then the corresponding x(yz+12) will mean that x is dependent on (yz+12). This would be quite unusual, since letters toward the end of the alphabet are usually used for variable names, while letters in the middle of the alphabet are used for function names.