Question

one number is 4 less than 3 times another. their sum is -16. find the smaller

Answer 1

are you supposed to write an expression?

Answer 2

3(n-4)=-16

n will equal -1.3 repeating

Answer 3

Let x =the another number.........then
3x is three times the another number........
then 3x -4 is the one number.......now we can say
3x-4 + x is the sum of one number and another number
The problem tells us that sum is -16
3x - 4 + x = -16
4x - 4 = -16 add 4 to both sides of equal sign.
4x = -12 divide both sides by 4
x = -3, "another" number is -3
-9 - 4 = -13 which will be the "one" number (3x - 4)