Write the verbal sentence as an equation

Question

-8 is 5 less than a number

Answer 1

The word "is" signifies an equal sign in the phrase so we have -8 = 5 less than a number.

For the phrase "5 less than a number," what do we mean? Is it 5 - x or is it x - 5?

In these situations I like to actually substitute a value for our "number." For example let's say the number was 10.

Then what is 5 less than 10? Do we mean 5 - 10 or 10 - 5? When someone says 5 less than 10, we mean 10 - 5.

Therefore, "5 less than a number" means x - 5!

Put it all together and what do we have?