Twice the difference of a number and 8 is equal to three times the sum of the number 5. Find the number.

Question

I need the answer to this word problem I'm doing a practice quiz and it's timed so i need the help really fast. 

Answer 1

Let x = the number

 

The key words are the following:

 

1) twice means 2 times the number

2) difference means subtract

3) sum is adding

 

With the key words, you could translate them into an equation in which is:

 

2x - 8 = 3x + 5

 

The way to solve this equation is to isolate the unknown variable and put the constant on the other side.

 

2x - 8 - 2x -5 = 3x + 5 - 2x -5

 

Work out the equation from above to find out what the number is.