Question

What would the world problem " the quotient of a number decreased by 7 and negative 2 is negative 10 " be as an equation?

Answer 1

Answer:

$\frac{x-7}{-2}=-10$

Explanation:

A quotient of two numbers is a fraction with the first number being in the numerator (top) and the other number in the denominator (bottom). The statement calls for a "number" decreased by 7. That number is unknown but we have to give it a name, so, for example, "x." Therefore (x-7) is in the numerator. Negative 2, or -2 is "the other number" of the quotient and so it is in the denominator. Finally, the quotient is supposed to equal negative 10, or "=-10" which is the right-hand side, completing the equation.

For your interest, if you solve the equation, you will get x = 27, and you can check that the equation holds. "27 decreased by 7, divided by -2 equals -10."