The product of a number and 3 is 5 less than the quotient of a number and 3. What is the number?

1 Answer
Sep 11, 2017

The number (n) is -15/8

Explanation:

Let's break this down using mathematical symbols:

The product of a number and 3:

We know that product means multiplication or times. A number is some unknown value which we can call a variable n. So this statement translates to 3timesn or 3n

is is an equilvent way to say equal to which can be represent using an = sign.

5 less than the quotient of a number and 3:

5 less than means some quantity minus 5 which we can express as "something"-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 n that will be divided by 3. Given this, the statement translates to

n/3-5

Putting the entire statement together we get an equation that we can solve for n

3n=n/3-5

So to solve for n, we can start by multiplying 3 to both sides

3(3n)=3(n/3-5)

9n=(3n)/3-15

9n=n-15

Subtract n 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