Answer:
18
Step-by-step explanation:
Let the required number be x.
<h3>Step 1</h3>
write the expression for the difference of the number and 4.
=> x - 4
<h3>Step 2</h3>
the question equates 5 times the difference with some other terms, so find the equation for 5 times the difference.
=> 5( x - 4)
<h3>
Step 3</h3>
The equation in Step 2 is said to be equal to "two less than four times the number".
Find the expression for four times the number
=> 4x
<h3>
Step 4</h3>
Find the expression for two less than 4x.
=> 4x - 2
<h3>Step 5</h3>
Equate the terms that it says are equal:
=> 5(x - 4) = 4x - 2
<em>distributing</em><em> </em><em>5</em><em> </em><em>within</em><em> </em><em>the</em><em> </em><em>parenthesis</em><em>:</em>
=> 5x - 20 = 4x - 2
<em>t</em><em>a</em><em>k</em><em>i</em><em>n</em><em>g</em><em> </em><em>like</em><em> </em><em>terms</em><em> </em><em>on</em><em> </em><em>one</em><em> </em><em>side</em><em>:</em>
=> 5x - 4x = 20 - 2
- (the sign carried by the terms get inverted while changing their sides)
=> x = 18
<em>and x was the required number, so the answer Is 18. </em>
