To eliminate the x-variable term from an equation, we need to multiply that equation by the opposite of the coefficient of the x-variable. If the first equation is of the form ax + by = c, then we need to multiply it by -a to eliminate the x-variable. Therefore, the number we should multiply the first equation by to eliminate the x-variable term is -3 if the first equation is of the form 3x + 2y = 7.