Question

The sum of one and three times a number is -89. What is the number?

A) Translate the statement above into an equation that you can solve to answer this question. Do not solve it yet. Use
x
as your variable.

The equation is



B) Solve your equation in part [A] for

Answer 1

A. 1 + 3x = -89

B. x = -30

Explanation:

Let the unknown variable be x.

A. Translating the word problem into an algebraic expression, we have;

1 + 3x = -89

B. To solve for the unknown variable;

1 + 3x = -89

3x = -89 -1

3x = -90

x = -90/3

x = -30

Check:

1 + 3x = -89

Substituting the value of x;

1 + 3(-30) = -89

1 + (-90) = -89

1 - 90 = -89

-89 = -89