Word problem

Question

What the question is asking is nine is three times the difference between a number and two. 

Answer 1

Let n = the unknown number

 

nine is three times the difference between a number and two

 

the difference between the number and 2 is (n-2). Three times the difference is 3(n-2).  Hence our equation is:

 

3(n-2) = 9

 

3n - 6 = 9

 

Solve for n