Chapter 7: Problem 16
If 3 is added to a number and this sum is doubled, the result is 2 more than the number. Find the number.
Short Answer
Expert verified
The number is \( -4 \).
Step by step solution
01
- Define the Variable
Let the unknown number be represented by the variable \( x \).
02
- Create the Equation
According to the problem, if 3 is added to the number \( x \), we get \( x + 3 \). Then, this sum is doubled, giving us \( 2(x + 3) \).
03
- Formulate the Relationship
The problem states that the doubled sum is 2 more than the number itself. Therefore, the equation can be written as:\[ 2(x + 3) = x + 2 \]
04
- Simplify the Equation
Expand and simplify the equation to isolate \( x \):\[ 2x + 6 = x + 2 \]
05
- Solve for x
Subtract \( x \) and 6 from both sides to solve for \( x \):\[ 2x + 6 - x - 6 = x + 2 - x - 6 \]This simplifies to:\[ x = -4 \]
06
- Verify the Solution
To verify, substitute \( x = -4 \) back into the original condition: Adding 3 to \( -4 \) gives: \( -4 + 3 = -1 \). Doubling this sum: \( 2(-1) = -2 \). According to the problem, this should equal \( -4 + 2 = -2 \), which is correct. Thus, the number is verified as \( -4 \).
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Variable Definition
In mathematics, a variable is a symbol used to represent an unknown quantity. It serves as a placeholder for the value we are trying to determine. In this exercise, we need to find a number, so we define the variable to make it easier to work with the equation. Let the unknown number be represented by the variable \( x \). This allows us to use algebraic methods to solve for \( x \). Defining the variable is the first step in translating a word problem into a mathematical equation.
Equation Formulation
The next step is to create an equation based on the information given in the problem. According to the exercise, if 3 is added to the unknown number \( x \), we get \( x + 3 \). Then, this sum is doubled, resulting in \( 2(x + 3) \). The problem also says that this doubled sum is 2 more than the number itself. Therefore, we can write this relationship as an equation:
- \[ 2(x + 3) = x + 2 \]
Simplification
Once the equation is formulated, the next step is simplification. This involves expanding and combining like terms to isolate the variable. Starting from the equation: \( 2(x + 3) = x + 2 \), we first expand it:
- \[ 2x + 6 = x + 2 \]
- \[ 2x + 6 - x - 6 = x + 2 - x - 6 \]
- \[ x = -4 \]
Verification
Verification is an important step to ensure that the solution obtained is correct. After solving for \( x \) and finding it to be \( -4 \), we substitute this value back into the original conditions of the problem to check if it holds true. According to the problem, if we add 3 to \( -4 \), we get \( -1 \). Doubling this sum results in:
- \[ 2(-1) = -2 \]