Shanell, I promise this is way easier than it seems.
If we call the number n, twice a number is 2n, right?
Fifty four less than that is 2n - 54.
In elementary school they would ask, "What goes in the blank? 3 + __ = 5." Of course, the answer is 2.
In algebra, instead of the blank, it's, "If 3 + a = 5, what is the value of a?" The answer is a = 2.
Or, it might be, "Find the value of 3 + a if a = 2."
3 + 2 = 5, so the answer is 5.
You can assign any letter as your variable(s) if it's not already assigned.
