How do you translate word phrases to algebraic expressions: four times a number decreased one is -29?

1 Answer
Feb 27, 2017

Se the entire translation process below:

Explanation:

First, let's call "a number": #n#

Then, for "four times a number" we can write:

#4 xx n# or #4 * n# or #4n#

This expression "decreased by one" means to subtract one so we can write:

#4n - 1#

Now, this expression "is -29" means it equals -29 so we can write:

#4n - 1 = -29#