Question 773225
'Multiplying <i>a certain even number</i> by 4 then 
subtracting 16 gives you the next consecutive even 
number.
<pre>
We will replace the italicized words <i>a certain 
even number"</i>  with the letter n.  And we have:
</pre>
'Multiplying n by 4 then subtracting 16 gives you 
<i>the next consecutive even number</i>.
<pre>
We will replace the italicized words with n+2, 
because you have to add 2 to an even number to get 
the next even number.  And now we have:
</pre>
'<i>Multiplying n by 4</i> then subtracting 16 
gives you n+2.
<pre>
We will replace the italicized words by 4n, and 
we have:
</pre>
4n <i>then subtracting 16</i> gives you n+2.
<pre>
We will replace the italicized words by - 16
and we have:
</pre>
4n - 16 <i>gives you</i> n+2.
<pre>
Finally we replace the italicized words by
an equal sign, " = ", and we have:

4n - 16 = n+2     <--- tada! an equation.

Solve that and get n = 6

Edwin</pre>