Question 495794
Let's call "the number" x.


Three times a number is the same as four less than the number.
To take this apart:
Three times a number ({{{3x}}})
is the same as (=)
four less than the number {{{x-4}}}.  This is the tricky part.  A lot of people want to do {{{4-x}}} because they see 4 first in the problem.  The key is the word "than".  It tells you to switch the order.  4 less THAN x means {{{x-4}}}.


So we have {{{3x=x-4}}}.  To solve:
Subtract x on both sides: {{{2x=-4}}}
Divide by 2 on both sides: {{{x=-2}}}
Our number should be -2.


Let's check:
Three times a number is the same as four less than the number
{{{3*-2=-6}}} and {{{-2-4=-6}}}.  I get -6 from both, and -6 is the same as -6, so it checks.  Our number is, indeed, -2.