two thirds of a number increased by six is three less than the number.
two thirds of a number increased by six is three less than the number.
Replace "a number" and "the number" by "x
two thirds of x increased by six is three less than .
two thirds of x increased by six is three less than x.
Replace "two thirds of x" by ""
increased by six is three less than x.
increased by six is three less than x.
Replace " increased by six" by ""
"" is three less than x.
"" is three less than x.
Replace the word "is" by an equal sign three less than x.
three less than x
.
The last part is tricky because the English is backwards from the algebra:
So first replace "three less than x" by "x decreased by three". You see,
it's x that we are decreasing, not "three". The "three" tells us how much
we are decreasing x. So any time you see the words "less than" in a word
problem, be very careful to decide what is being decreased and what we are
decreasing it by, for it is very important that you do not get these reversed.
x decreased by three.
Now replace "x decreased by three" by
Can you solve that? If not post again asking how.
Answer
Edwin
