one less than 3 times a number is the number plus 5

Question

how do you make this in to a normal problem so i could figure this out a get a better knowledge on how to do this project in math and get a good grade 

Answer 1

Hi Jack,

Hope you are having a great day. 


So, let's do the problem this way, okay? 

Let x be the number you are searching for here in this problem. You can assign any variable you want, but x seems to always work, right? Now I want you to do me a favor and read the problem along with what I write below, fair enough? 

3x - 1        <-------------------------------one less than three times a number. 




x + 5         <--------------------------------the number plus five.    

We good so far? Great. Now notice the word "is." In word problems that word means equal to. Okay? 

So, what are we going to do then? We are just going to follow the problem's instructions to arrive at our answer. 


3x - 1 = x + 5 

Now, how about we simplify this?  I like to show my work one step at a time and I encourage you to do the same so your teacher can see the logic you used and sometimes if you used the right logic, even if you arrive at the wrong answer (which we don't want to set as a goal) you will get partial credit. So always show your work, okay? 


3x - 1 = x + 5 

2x - 1 = 5                   <-------Subtracted x from each side


2x = 6                        <-------Added 1 to each side. 

x = 3                          <-------Divided both sides of equation by 2 leaving x to itself. 


Now, we always want to check our work, right? Because if x is in fact, 3 then when we plug the number into our original equation it should work to being equal, right? 

Original equation we set up was: 

3x - 1 = x + 5 

3(3) - 1 = 3 + 5    <---------Is this a true statement? 

9 -1 = 3 + 5 

8 = 8                    <---------Yep. It IS a true statement therefore, our number we were searching for is 3 



I hope I have helped you and provided you with the explantion as to why I did things this way. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me below in the comments section or just to leave feedback? I hope you have a great Wednsesday.   

Answer 2

"one less than 3 times a number" translates to

 

3n - 1

 

"the number plus 5" translates to 

 

n + 5

 

"is" translates to

 

=

 

Put it all together and get

 

3n - 1 = n + 5

 

Now just solve for n.