What is Four times the sum of three times a number and 2 is 8

Question

Translate the verbal expression into variable expressions

Answer 1

Let x represent the number.

3x is then 3 times that number.

The sum of that number and 2 is 3x + 2

Four times the sum is represented by 4(3x+2).

That expression IS (has a value of 8) IS is translated into algebra with an equal sign.

So finally we have:

4(3x+2) = 8.

If you want to solve that equation for x, one way to do that:

3x+2 = 2 (divide both sides by 4--division for equality)

3x=0 (subtract 2 from both sides)

x=0 (divide both sides by 3)

3 times 0 is 0 summed with 2 gives 2. And 4 times 2 IS 8.