The sum of two and the quotient of a number and eight is negative seven. What is the number?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-15T23:01:12

Call the number #x# and break up the problem

"quotient of a number and eight" #=x/8#

"the sum of two and ..." #=2+x/8#

"is negative seven" #2+x/8=-7#

Now we have something we can work with:
Subtract #2# from both sides:

#cancel2-cancel2+x/8=-7-2->x/8=-9#

Multiply both sides by #8#:

#cancel8xx x/cancel8=-9xx8->x=-72#

Check your answer:
#2+(-72)/8=2-9=-7# Check!