The sum of 3 and a number is 11.

Question

Using the variable​ x, translate the sentence into an equation. Solve the resulting equation.

The algebraic equation is _____

The number is x = ______

Answer 1

Remember that the word sum means addition.

So reading this problem from left to right, the sum of 3 and a number, that's 3 + x, is, equals, 11.

So our equation is 3 + x = 11.

Now let's solve the equation.

We want to get x by itself on one side of the equation.

Since we have 3 + x, in order to get x by itself, we must subtract 3 from the left side of the equation and

when we subtract 3 from the left side of the equation, remember that we must also subtract 3 from the right side of the equation.

So on the left, +3 and -3 cancel each other out and on the right, 11 - 3 simplifies to 8.

So we have x = 8 which is the solution to this equation.

Answer 2

Hi Julia,

Use x to represent the unknown number and recalling that the word"sum" indicates addition, we can write and solve the following equation:

3 + x = 11

You can solve as follows:

3 + x = 11

3 + x - 3 = 11-3

x = 8

Hope this helps Julia!