What is a number decreased by 16 is 36 less than three times the number

Answer 1

Let's name the number in question 'n'. The problem statement can then be written as:

n - 16 = 3n -36

Collecting all unknowns on one side and moving everything else to the other:

n - 16 = 3n - 36 | -n

-16 = 3n - n - 36 | + 36

36 - 16 = 3n -n

20 = (3 - 1)n

20 = 2n | ÷2

n = 10

The number is 10.

Answer 2