Question 107972
find a number which decreased by 24 equals 3 times its opposite.
:
Let x = the number
Then
-x = it's opposite
:
x - 24 = 3(-x) 
x - 24 = -3x
x + 3x = +24
4x = 24
x = 24/4
x = +6
:
Check in original statement
6 - 24 = 3(-6)
-18 = -18