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 #471363 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39618)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=471363\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Your description is ambiguous.  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Trying phrase by phrase,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Five times a number----------------- <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Decreased by 18--------------------- <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x-18 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x-18\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Minus 4 times the same number-------- <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x-18-4x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x-18-4x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Is -36 -------------------------------<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%285x-18-4x=-36%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%285x-18-4x=-36%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Trying to guess at the phrasing meanings,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Five times a number-----------<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Decreased by 18 minus 4 times same number--------<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5x-%2818-4x%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5x-%2818-4x%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Is -36 --------------------------------------<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%285x-%2818-4x%29=-36%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%285x-%2818-4x%29=-36%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Those two equations are not equivalent.  Their solutions are not the same.  The problem description needs to be more precise in order to tell which form is the one expected. </SPAN>\n" );
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