the product of x and -9 is subtracted from a number the result is 4 more than the number

Question

the product of x and -9 is subtracted from a number the result is 4 more than the number

Answer 1

Hi Missina,

 

We need to define a variable for "the number", so let's call it N.

 

Turning these words into math, we translate "product" to be multiplication.   "the result is" translates to "="     and subtracted means subtracted :-)  "more than the number" is addition.

 

So...

 

 

The product of x and -9:   this is (x)*(-9) = -9x

is subtracted from the number:   N-(-9x)

and the result is:  N-(-9x)=

4 more than the number:  4 + N

 

Putting these together we have   N - (-9x) = 4 + N

 

Simplify left side:   N + 9x = 4 + N

 

Subtract N from both sides:   9x = 4

 

Divide both sides by 9 to isolate the "x":  x = 4/9

 

Were you looking for x?  If so, x = 4/9.   

 

If you were looking for N, the number, because it drops out of our equation, it can be any real number.