document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1200411>Question 1200411</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I subtrated 8 from a certain number. I then multiply the result by3. The final ananswer is 21.find the original number </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #834537 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13203)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=834537\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The problem tells you what operations were performed on the starting number, and it tells you what number you ended up with.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "One way to find what number you started with is to work backwards: take the number you started with and perform the OPPOSITE operations in the OPPOSITE order.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The operations you performed on the number you started with were (1) subtract 8 and (2) multiply by 3.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "To get back to the original number from the number you ended up with, you need to (1) divide by 3 and (2) add 8.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "21/3 = 7; 7+8 = 15<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: 15<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Note that in solving the problem using the standard algebraic method those are exactly the steps you need to do -- divide by 3 and then add 8:<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "3(x-8) = 21  [given]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x-8 = 21/3 = 7  [divide by 3]<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 7+8 = 15  [add 8]<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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