<PRE><B>Question 678340</B>
Let X = a number
three times the sum of a number and 4
the sum of a number and 4 means you add them
x+4 
three times means multiply by 3
3(x+4)
8 less than one-half the number
one half the number is 1/2X
8 less means subtract 8
1/2x-8
is means equals so set those equal to each other
3(x+4)=1/2x-8
3x+12=1/2x-8
subtract 3x from both sides
12=-2.5x-8
add 8 to both sides
20=-2.5x
divide both sides by 2.5
x= - 8
plug it back into the equation to check work

</PRE>