how to find the number

Question

he sum of twice a number and sixteen less then the number is the sme as the difference between -36 and the number what is the number

Answer 1

Hi Jenna,

 

Let x = the number

 

 

2x + (x-16)   (so this is how we represent the sum of twice a number and 16 less than the number

 

 

and that equals 

 

-36 - x      (the difference between -36 and the number

 

and now we can set these equal because the problem says they are the same

 

2x + (x -16) = -36 -x

 

3x -16 = -36 -x

 

4x = -20

 

x = -5  (so the number is -5

 

Hope this helps