What equation would you use to solve the problem

Question

4 less than the product of 3 and a number is -15

Answer 1

We will begin with using "x" for the unknown number. We can use any letter or symbol to represent this number.

The sentence states that "4 less than the product of 3 and a number" is -15. This essentially means that -15 is equal to "4 less than the product of 3 and a number." So we can substitute "is" with the equal sign "="

4 less than the product of 3 and a number = -15

Now we know that the x number is being multiplied by 3 as the sentence states that there is a product of 3 and a number. We will represent this with "3x" or 3 times x.

Now we have 4 less than 3x = -15

Whenever we have something less than, it means that it is being subtracted. 4 is being subtracted by 3x so we will write this as (3x-4).

With all of these variables considered, we know have this equation:

3x - 4 = -15