Question 62997
A number is tripled and then the product is increased by 4. This sum is then multiplied by -2 and the result is 16 greater than twice the opposite of the number. What is the number??
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Let "A number" = x:  It's "opposite" = -x
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Write an expression for each phrase:
"A number is tripled and then the product is increased by 4."
That would be: 3x + 4
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"This sum is multiplied by -2"
That would be -2(3x+4)
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The word "is" usually means equal in these problems
" result is 16 greater than twice the opposite of the number"
 = 2(-x) + 16
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Put it all together, a simple equation:
-2(3x + 4) = 2(-x) + 16
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Multiply what is in brackets:
-6x - 8 = -2x + 16
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Basic algebra:
-6x + 2x = 16 + 8
-4x = +24
x = 24/-4
x = - 6, it's opposite would be +6
:
:
Check it in our equation x=-6:
-2(3x + 4) = 2(-x) + 16
-2(3(-6) + 4) = 2(+6) + 16
-2(-18 + 4 = 12 + 16
+36 - 8 = 28
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How about this? Did it make  sense to you?