Question

i am thinking of a number. If you multiply my number by four, add -4 to the product, and then take 1/3 of the sum, the result is -6. Find my number.

Answer 1

1/3((x*4) + (-4)) = -6
First multiply by 3 to get rid of the 1/3.
(x*4) + (-4) = -18
Subtract -4 from both sides to get 4x alone. (Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding the number)
4x = -14
Now divide both sides by 4 to get x alone.
x = -3.5