Question 1045724
The way to look at this is:
number = opposite number less 38 
Let X be Number, then -X is opposite number
The algebraic equation to solve then is:
{{{X=-X-38}}}
{{{X+X=X-X-38}}}
{{{2X=-38}}}
{{{2x/2=-38/2}}}
{{{x=-19}}}

You kind of need to do a sanity check with word problems.  Is -19 38 less than its opposite?  The opposite of -19 is 19.  19-38=-19.  So the answer seems plausible.

The number is {{{highlight(-19)}}}

Happy Calculating!