Ok, so i have done this problem twice (two different ways) and i have gotten two different answers in doing so.
Here is the word problem:
Five times a number decreased by 18 minus 4 times the same number is -36.
I tried: 5x-(18-4x)=-36 and got x=-2
But ive also tried: 5x-18-4x=-36 and got x=-18.
So as you can see I'm confused on which way is the correct way.
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This is a classic example of a poorly written word problem.
It is very ambiguous.
It could also be interpreted this way:
5(x - 18) - 4x = -36
That gives the answer 54. There are a number of other ways it
could be taken, depending on how you group the words.
You are right to complain about this problem! It is really ambiguous
as you discovered.
1. (Five times a number) decreased by (18 minus 4 times the same number) is -36.
2. Five times (a number decreased by 18) minus (4 times the same number) is -36.
3. Five times [a number decreased by (18 minus 4)] times the same number is -36.
4. (Five times a number) decreased by (18 minus 4) times the same number is -36.
and bunches more ways.
Edwin