Question

Twelve less than 1/5 of a number is-7

Answer 1

To solve this we have to work backwards.

start with -7 and add 12 to it to undo the first move

$- 7 + 12 = 5$

now take 5 and multiply by 5 to undo the last move

$5\times 5 = 25$

check our work:

$25 \div 5 = 5 \\ 5 - 12 = - 7$

Answer 2

First set and equation
{12 - 1/5x = -7}

Then solve
-1/5x = -7 - 12
-1/5x = -19
x = -19 x -5
x = 95

Check- 12 - 1/5(95)= -7
12- 19 = -7