"the difference of a number x and 4": x - 4
"is": =
"3": 3
Combine the terms so that it looks like the sentence numerically:
"the difference of a number x and 4 is 3": x - 3 = 4
x - 3 = 4 is your answer.
To solve for x:
Note the equal sign, what you do to one side, you do to the other. Isolate the variable, x. Add 3 to both sides.
x - 3 = 4
x -3 (-3) = 4 (-3)
x = 4 - 3
x = 1
1 is your answer for x.
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