Question

The difference of a number squared and the number is one less than four times the number

Answer 1

let the number = x

x^2 - 1 = 4 x-1
do you need to find the number x?

x^2 -4 x = 0
x(x-4) = 0
x = 0; x- 4 = 0, x = 4

check x = 0 0^2-1 =-1 4(0) -1 = -1
x = 4 4^2 - 1 = 16-1 = 15 4*4 -1 = 16 - 1 = 15