Question

The sum of a number and three less than the number is sixteen. How do you write that in numbers

Answer 1

Its:
`x+(x-3)=16`

Start at the beginning
The sum of a number is
`x+` and three less than the number is
`(x-3)`
Parentheses are mandatory; it is asking the number you get from
`x-3`
Its asking for the sum so you would get
`x+(x-3)`
In the very large dictionary of mathmatical terms, in this kind of problem, the word "is" means =.
The problem says "is sixteen"
So you would get
`x+(x-3)=16`