document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=773210>Question 773210</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Ok, so i have done this problem twice (two different ways) and i have gotten two different answers in doing so.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here is the word problem:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Five times a number decreased by 18 minus 4 times the same number is -36.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I tried: 5x-(18-4x)=-36 and got x=-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "But ive also tried: 5x-18-4x=-36 and got x=-18.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So as you can see I'm confused on which way is the correct way. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #471361 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Edwin+McCravy><B>Edwin McCravy(20056)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Edwin+McCravy><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Edwin+McCravy><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=471361\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Ok, so i have done this problem twice (two different ways) and i have gotten two different answers in doing so.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here is the word problem:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Five times a number decreased by 18 minus 4 times the same number is -36.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I tried: 5x-(18-4x)=-36 and got x=-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "But ive also tried: 5x-18-4x=-36 and got x=-18.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So as you can see I'm confused on which way is the correct way.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<PRE STYLE=\"white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: -moz-pre-wrap; white-space: -pre-wrap; white-space: -o-pre-wrap; word-wrap: break-word;\">\r\n" );
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document.write( "This is a classic example of a poorly written word problem.  \r\n" );
document.write( "It is very ambiguous.\r\n" );
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document.write( "It could also be interpreted this way:\r\n" );
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document.write( "5(x - 18) - 4x = -36\r\n" );
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document.write( "That gives the answer 54.  There are a number of other ways it \r\n" );
document.write( "could be taken, depending on how you group the words.\r\n" );
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document.write( "You are right to complain about this problem!  It is really ambiguous \r\n" );
document.write( "as you discovered.\r\n" );
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document.write( "1. (Five times a number) decreased by (18 minus 4 times the same number) is -36.\r\n" );
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document.write( "2. Five times (a number decreased by 18) minus (4 times the same number) is -36.\r\n" );
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document.write( "3. Five times [a number decreased by (18 minus 4)] times the same number is -36.\r\n" );
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document.write( "4. (Five times a number) decreased by (18 minus 4) times the same number is -36.\r\n" );
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document.write( "and bunches more ways.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin</PRE> </SPAN>\n" );
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