<PRE><B>Question 69262</B>
SEE PROBLEM 69263


Let x= the number

Then five times the number is 5x

Six less than 5 times the number is 5x-6

Three times the number is 3x

6 less than 5 times a number, subtracted from 3 times the number is 3x-(5x-6) and this equals 12, we are told.  So, our equation to solve is:


3x-(5x-6)=12  get rid of parens (to do that we have to multiply (5x-6) by -1) 

3x-5x+6=12   subtract 6 from both sides

3x-5x+6-6=12-6   collect like terms

-2x=6  divide both sides by -2

x=-3

CK

3x-(5x-6)=12 

3(-3)-(5(-3)-6)=12
-9-(-15-6)=12
-9-(-21)=12
-9+21=12
12=12

Hope this helps-----ptaylor
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