Question 1203345
<br>
(revised response... I originally read the problem as "18 less than" instead of "-18 less than"...)<br>
let x be the number you started with<br>
after adding -1, the result is x-1<br>
after doubling, the result is 2(x-1)<br>
That result is -18 less than the original number:<br>
2(x-1) = x-(-18)
2x-2 = x+18
x = 20<br>
ANSWER: the original number was 20<br>
CHECK:
20-1 = 19
2(19) = 38
20-(-18)= 38<br>