Final answer:
The algebraic equation derived from the statement is solved by isolating 'x' after moving terms to either side of the equation and combining like terms. The solution to the equation is x = -136, which represents the certain number in question.
Step-by-step explanation:
Solving the Algebraic Equation
The question can be translated into an algebraic equation. Let's call the certain number 'x'. According to the problem, 'two more than a certain number is 15 less than the product of 7/8 and the number'. We can write this as:
x + 2 = (7/8)x - 15
To solve for x, we can start by moving all terms involving x to one side of the equation and the constant terms to the other side, aiming to isolate x:
Subtract (7/8)x from both sides to get x - (7/8)x + 2 = -15.
Combine like terms, remembering that x is the same as (8/8)x, which results in (1/8)x + 2 = -15.
Subtract 2 from both sides to get (1/8)x = -17.
Multiply both sides by 8 to find x. Therefore, x = -136.
The certain number in the equation is -136.