Question

Two less than 4 times a number is the same as the number plus 34. Find the number?

Answer 1

The required number is `12`.

Explanation:

To solve the problem first define a variable for the required number.
Let's say, `n` is our required number.

Then according to the given statement, we have:

`4x-2=x+34`

Add `2` to both sides:

`4x-2+2=x+34+2`

`4x=x+36`

Subtract `x` from both sides:

`4x-x=x+36-x`

`3x=36`

Divide both sides by `3`:

`\frac{3x}{3}=\frac{36}{3}`

`x=12`

That's it!

Answer 2

The number is `12`

Explanation:

The phase "is the same as" separates the sentence into two equal parts.
Write an expression for each.

Let ' the number' be `x`

`4` times the number : `4x`

Two less than that means: `color(blue)(4x-2)`

The number plus `34` is written as `color(red)(x+34)`

These two expressions are equal to each other.

`color(blue)(4x-2)" = "color(red)(x+34)`

`4x -x = 34+2`

`3x =36`

`x =12`

Check:

`color(blue)(4x-2)" = "color(red)(x+34)`

`color(blue)(4(12)-2)" = "color(red)((12)+34)`

`color(blue)(46)" = "color(red)(46)`