translate English to Algebra

Question

Here is the English: twicw the sum of a number and four is the same as four times the number decreased by 12.  My trnaslation is 2(x+4)=4(x-12) but the book says 4x-12. Who is right?

Answer 1

Pete, I see what you're thinking, but the book's answer is correct. Four times the number decreased by 12 is 4x - 12.

 

4(x - 12) would be four times the difference of a number and 12.

 

Make sense?