Question 75160
Let x=the number that exceeds 23 
Then x-23=the amount that the number exceeds 23

Now we know that 15 exceeds -3 by 18 (15-(-3)=18) and 4 more than twice this amount is 2*18+4=40.  So our equation to solve is:

x-23=40 add 23 to both sides

x=63 ------------------------the number

CK

x-23=2*18+4
63-23=36+4
40=40


Hope this helps-------------ptaylor