Question

Which equation would best help solve this problem?

Five added to 3 times a number is equal to 8 less than five times the number.

Answer 1

Are you given choices?

Answer 2

Yes @mathstudent55

Answer 3

3x + 5 = 5x – 8
3x – 4 = 5x + 8
4x + 3 = 8x – 5
8x + 5 = 4x + 3

Answer 4

3 x + 5 = 5 x – 8
3 x – 4 = 5 x + 8
4 x + 3 = 8 x – 5
8 x + 5 = 4 x + 3

Answer 5

@mathstudent55 idk how to get rid of those diamonds.

Answer 6

I see the equations.

Answer 7

ok

Answer 8

They are using x as the variable to represent the unknown number.

Answer 9

If x is the unknown number, how do you represent 3 times the number?

Answer 10

You multiply it I think We had a session on this but i want there.

Answer 11

Right.
x is the number.
3 times the number is 3 times x which is written as 3x
Ok?

Answer 12

Ohhh ok.

Answer 13

Now we need to add 5 to that product.
"Five added to 3 times a number" is:
3x + 5
Ok so far?

Answer 14

I'm Getting it so far.

Answer 15

The next word is "is".
In math, "is" usually means =
We now have
3x + 5 =

Answer 16

In fact, you have "is equal to" which for sure is "="

Answer 17

Now let's look at what comes after "is equal to"

Answer 18

And then it says 8 less times

Answer 19

8 less than five times the number.

Answer 20

Let's start with 5 times the number.
Just like 3 times the number was 3x, what is 5 timers the number?

Answer 21

5x

Answer 22

Good.
"less" means you are taking away, so it means subtraction.
8 less than 5x means take away 8 from 5x
That means subtract 8 from 5x
How do you think you'd write that using a subtraction sign?

Answer 23

8-5x

Answer 24

or was it 5x-8

Answer 25

No.
You need to be careful.
The way you wrote it, you are taking away 5x from 8.
We need to take 8 away from 5x.

Answer 26

Exactly. Now you got it.

Answer 27

YA!

Answer 28

Now we can fill in our equation:

3x + 5 = 5x - 8

Answer 29

One of the choices is exactly that equation.

Answer 30

Thank You so MUCH! I would have never figured out this question withour u!

Answer 31

You are welcome.
Here is a helpful hint.
When you see a problem like this, break up the sentence into small parts.
Work on each part. Then put it all together.

Answer 32

Remember the keywords:
lees means subtraction
added is obviously addition
is means =

Answer 33

And i have one more if its not to much and its kinda like this last one but a little more confusing.

Answer 34

Yes, but please start a new post.

Answer 35

I'll look for it.

Answer 36

ok!