Translating Words into Equations
We can translate word equations into number equations by recognizing key words as operations:
- Three times = multiply by 3
- Difference = subtract
- Is = equals
Solving the Question
We're given:
- Fifteen is three times the difference between three times a number, n, and four.
Divide the sentence into parts:
- [Fifteen] [is] [three times the difference between three times a number, n, and four]
Translate into numbers and operations:
- 15 = [three times the difference between three times a number, n, and four]
- 15 = 3 × [difference between three times a number, n, and four]
- 15 = 3 × (3n - 4)
Isolate n:
15 = 3 × (3n - 4)
15 = 9n - 12
27 = 9n
n = 3
Answer
15 = 3 × (3n - 4)
n = 3