How do you translate the following statement "Five less than a number is seventeen" into an algebraic expression and then find the number?

2 Answers
Mar 28, 2018

#x-5=17#
(22)

Explanation:

So we know that the number we are looking for is five more than seventeen.

#x-5=17#
#x=+5=+5#
so we will need to add the number on the left of the equals sign to get the x by itself.
Add the 5 to the 17.
(22)
#x=22#

So #x-5=17# would be the translated expression.

Mar 28, 2018

See the process below:

Explanation:

We can represent "a number" as "x".

"Five less than a number" would be the same as saying "#x - 5#", and this will be equal to 17, so the full equation is:

#x - 5 = 17#

To find the number representative of x, add five to both sides to get #x = 22#.