SOLUTION: My problem is Numerical Expressions I get most of it. My problem is this question one-fourth of a number decreased by 5 is -2. Find the number. I don't get it.

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Question 829015: My problem is Numerical Expressions I get most of it. My problem is this question
one-fourth of a number decreased by 5 is -2. Find the number.
I don't get it.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39632) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The description is slightly unclear, causing the trouble.

This is a try.
The number is n, (or any variable you want).
One-fourth of a number? %281%2F4%29n;
One-fourth of a NUMBER DECREASED BY 5? %281%2F4%29%28n-5%29
Or is it this:
One-fourth of a number ----- Decreased by 5? %281%2F4%29n-5.
They are not the same, and the imprecise wording is the trouble.

The exercise author probably means the second one, (1/4)n-5, but still the description itself could use/needs some work.

This part, "...is -2", means =-2
(Rendering will not work if the symbolic phrasing is an incomplete sentence)