I am thinking of a number. If you multiply me by 2 and then subtract 6, you get 10. What number am I?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to find a number that, when multiplied by 2 and then reduced by 6, results in 10. This necessitates forming an equation to arrive at the answer.
Answer
The number is $8$.
Answer for screen readers
The number is $8$.
Steps to Solve
- Formulate the equation
Let the unknown number be represented as $x$. The problem states that if you multiply this number by 2 and then subtract 6, you get 10. This can be written as:
$$ 2x - 6 = 10 $$
- Isolate the variable
To solve for $x$, first, add 6 to both sides of the equation:
$$ 2x - 6 + 6 = 10 + 6 $$
This simplifies to:
$$ 2x = 16 $$
- Divide by the coefficient
Next, divide both sides by 2 to solve for $x$:
$$ x = \frac{16}{2} $$
This simplifies to:
$$ x = 8 $$
The number is $8$.
More Information
The problem involves basic algebraic manipulation. It demonstrates how to set up an equation from a word problem and solve for an unknown variable. Understanding how to isolate a variable is a fundamental skill in algebra.
Tips
- Forgetting to add 6 to both sides when isolating the variable. Be careful with the operation signs.
- Confusing the equation and making an arithmetic error when dividing.
