document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=97614>Question 97614</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if 2 is subtracted from a number and this difference is tripled, the result is 6 more than the number.  find the number. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #71028 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><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=71028\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The words \"a number\" in the problem imply that you are to find an unknown number. Call that <BR>\n" );
document.write( "number x.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The problem says \"if two is subtracted from a number ... \". Translating this into an expression<BR>\n" );
document.write( "is done by subtracting 2 from the unknown number x. In algebraic form this is:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x - 2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This is the difference. The problem says to triple this difference. And in algebraic form<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this tripling is:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3(x - 2)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This tripled form is 6 more than the number. So if we take 6 from this tripled form the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "result will equal the unknown number. Or in equation form:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3(x - 2) - 6 = x<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Do the distributed multiplication on the left side by multiplying each of the two terms<BR>\n" );
document.write( "inside the parentheses by the multiplier 3.  When this multiplication is done you have:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x - 6 - 6 = x<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Combine the two -6 terms on the left side to make the equation become:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3x - 12 = x<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Subtract x from both sides and the equation becomes:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x - 12 = 0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Next get rid of the -12 on the left side by adding 12 to both sides. On the left side the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "added 12 cancels the - 12 and the equation then becomes:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "2x = 12<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Finally divide both sides by 2 which is the multiplier of the x to reduct the equation to:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x = 12/2 = +6<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The answer is that the unknown number is +6.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's check this answer by substituting it back into the original problem.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "First, if you subtract 2 from x you get 6 - 2 = 4.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Next if you triple that you have 3 times 4 which equals 12.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "According to the problem this result is to be 6 more than the number. Is 12 actually 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "more than 6. Yes, it is so the answer checks. <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps you to understand the problem. </SPAN>\n" );
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