Question 388188
three times a number less four is 17
 
implies three times this number is 21 (17 plus four)
 
hence the number is twenty-one divided by 3, which is 7.
 
Formula wise : let x be the searched number, then 
 
3x-4 = 17
  
3x = 17+4 = 21
 
x = 7