When 122 is decreased by five times a number, the result is equal to the number increased by 20. What is the number?

Answer 1

First put the word sentence into a mathematical expression.

Let's look at the first part of the sentence. It says 122 is decreased by five times a number.

"Is decreased by" means "minus"

"A number", means some unknown quantity, so we can substitute in a variable (x).

"Five times a number" therefore means 5 * x

So altogether, "122 is decreased by five times a number" means 122 - 5 * x

The next part says that this is equal to the number increased by 20.

"Is increased by" means "add"

So a "number increased by 20" means x + 20.

We have that 122 - 5 * x and x + 20 are equal to each other

122 - 5x = x + 20.

Solve for x by

1) adding 5x to both sides

2) subtracting 20 on both sides

3) Dividing both sides by the coefficient in front of x

Answer 2

122 - 5n = n + 20

Can you solve for n and answer?