Answer:
¼x - 20 = -45
¼x = -25
x = -100
Explanation:
To solve this we can write it out into an equation. Let's use the variable x for the number Alex is thinking of. Then we can take out each information to see what it means mathematically. We need to see what operation is being done.
"twenty less than one fourth of the number" The second part is using mutiplication, as indicated by "of." So we would write a quarter (one fourth) times the number (x). The first part is using subtraction, indicated by "less than." This would be expressed by "- 20"
Putting it together:
¼x - 20
"is -45" this is joining the expression to an equation. So this would simply mean " = -45 " Then our equation is:
¼x - 20 = -45
Now we can solve it.
¼x - 20 = -45
¼x = -25
x = -100