Question

7 less than one-fourth of a number equal to 17. What is the number?

Answer 1

(1/4)x-7=17

(1/4)x=24

x=96

work backwards

Answer 2

Solve it by reversing what is done to the number. You don't need an equation to do that.

17 is 7 less than ...

so adding 7 to 17, making 24, will give you ... one-fourth of the number. If 24 is one-fouth of the number, multiplying 24 by 4 will give you the number. Doing that tells you the number is 96.

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You can do the same solution process using an equation.

(1/4)n - 7 = 17 . . . . . 7 less than 1/4 of a number is 17

(1/4)n = 24 . . . . . . . add 7

n = 4·24 = 96 . . . . multiply by 4

The number is 96.