Final answer:
The algebraic equation that represents the given situation is 4 + (1/2)x = x - 6.
Step-by-step explanation:
The algebraic equation that represents the given situation is 4 + (1/2)x = x - 6.
To understand how we arrived at this equation, we break down the problem into its components. The phrase 'the sum of 4 and half a number' translates to 4 + (1/2)x. The phrase 'equals 6 less than the number' translates to x - 6. Combining these two expressions, we get the equation 4 + (1/2)x = x - 6.
Therefore, option a) 4 + (1/2)x = x - 6 is the correct answer.