32.2k views
4 votes
The difference of a number and its opposite is 28. Find
the number.

User Ewcz
by
4.5k points

2 Answers

5 votes

Explanation:

Lets break this word problem down:

"The difference" means we're going to be finding x - y ("difference" means we're finding how much one value "differs" from the other)

"a number and it's opposite" so we're doing x - y, where y = -x. So already, we can re-write this as x - (-x) or x + x

"is 28" so x + x = 28 ("is" always means "equals")

"Find the number" so we're finding x.

x - (-x) = 28 (I went back a step so I could write everything out more plainly)

simplify

x + x = 28

add

2x = 28

divide both sides by 2 to get x on its own

x = 14

Answer:

14

User Sarahmichelle
by
4.1k points
1 vote
The difference of a number and it’s opposite is 28. Find

the number.

Answer:14