Question

Translate each sentence into an equation. Then find each number.

Two less than the product of a number and –5 is –42.

Answer 1

-5x - 2 = -42

x= 8

Explanation:

-5x-2=-42

1) add 2 to both sides in order to eliminate -2.

-5x = -40

2) divide both sides by 5.

x = 8

Answer 2

The number is 8

Explanation:

Two less than the product of a number and –5 is –42.

This simply implies that after multiplying a number with -5 and we subtract 2 from the result the answer is -42

Since we don't know the number.

Therefore we interpret the statement as.

let assume the number is y.

(y * -5) - 2 = -42

-5y = -42 + 2

-5y = -40

y = -40/-5

y = 8.

The number is 8