Question

Two less than three times a number is equal to 19. What is the number?

Answer 1

The best way to approach a word problem like this

is to break it down into pieces, so we can understand it fully.

In this problem, we have a number, which we don't know.

We can use any variable to represent it.

So let's use the variable n to represent it.

"Two less than three times a number" means 3n - 2.

A common mistake is for students to put 2 - 3n.

However, the word "less than" switches the order around.

So we have 3n - 2 = 19.

Solving from here, we add 2 to both sides to get 3n = 21.

Now divide both sides of the equation by 3 and we have n = 7.

So the number is 7.