Let's break this down using mathematical symbols:
The product of a number and 33:
We know that product means multiplication or times. A number is some unknown value which we can call a variable nn. So this statement translates to 3timesn3×n or 3n3n
is is an equilvent way to say equal to which can be represent using an == sign.
55 less than the quotient of a number and 33:
55 less than means some quantity minus 55 which we can express as "something"-5something−5 for now. We also know that the quotient means division or divide(divide)(÷). A number, as we said before is some unknown quantity (or number) that we can call a variable nn that will be divided by 33. Given this, the statement translates to
n/3-5n3−5
Putting the entire statement together we get an equation that we can solve for nn
3n=n/3-53n=n3−5
So to solve for nn, we can start by multiplying 33 to both sides
3(3n)=3(n/3-5)3(3n)=3(n3−5)
9n=(3n)/3-159n=3n3−15
9n=n-159n=n−15
Subtract nn from both sides
9n-n=cancel(n-n)-15
8n=-15
Divide 8 from both sides to solve for n
cancel8/cancel8n=-15/8
n=-15/8
