The product of 5 and 2 less than a triple number equals the product of 7 and 8 more than twice the number. What is the number?

Answer 1

5(3x-2) = 7(2x+8)

15x-10 = 14x+56

x=66

Answer 2

Let x be the number

Let's translate the words into an equation

the product of 5 and 2 less than triple a number; 5 * (3x - 2) = 15x - 10

the product of 7 and 8 more than twice a number: 7 * (2x + 8) = 14x + 56

those products are equal so:

15x - 10 + 14x + 56

x = 66