Write the following as an algebraic expression.
one half of the difference between $y$ and $4$

• A. $\frac{1}{2}y-4$
• B. $y-2$
• C. $\frac{1}{2}(y-4)$
• D. $\frac{1}{2}(y+4)$

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key phrase: "one half of the difference between y and 4." This means you first find the difference between y and 4, then take one half of that result.
2. Write the difference between y and 4 as an expression: \(y - 4\).
3. Since you want one half of this difference, multiply the difference by one half. This can be written as \(\frac{1}{2} \times (y - 4)\).
4. Use parentheses to clearly indicate that one half multiplies the entire difference, not just y or 4 individually. So the expression becomes \(\frac{1}{2} \left(y - 4\right)\).
5. This expression correctly represents "one half of the difference between y and 4" in algebraic form.