Question

Which line shows the first error in the solution?

A number divided by 3 is four more than -11. What is the number?

x/ + 4 = -11 (1)
x/3 + 4 -4 = -11 -4 (2)
x/3 = -15 (3)
x/3 x 3 = -15 x 3 (4)
x = -45 (5)

A. Line

B. Line 3

C. Line 4

D. Line 2

Answer 1

The first line.

Explanation:

If we let x represent "a number", then "a number divided by 3" is x/3. The denominator is missing on the first line.

Further, this "is 4 more than -11", so is = 4 + (-11). The constant 4 is on the wrong side of the equal sign in line 1.

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The solution should be ...

... x/3 = 4 + (-11)

... x = 3·(-7)

... x = -21

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Check

-21 divided by 3 is -7. That is 4 more than -11.