One number is 4 less than 3 times another number. If their sum is 16, find the numbers.
What equations could be used to solve the problem if x represents a number?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Lets say 'x' represents the "another number", then "one number is 4 less than 3 times another number is:
$$3x-4$$
So our 2 numbers are 'x' and '3x-4'.  Their sum is 16, so now we have:
$$x+ 3x-4 = 16 \Rightarrow 4x-4 = 16 \Rightarrow 4x = 20 \Rightarrow x = 5$$
So the first number is 5, and the second number is 3(5)-4 = 11