Final answer:
The equation '2(a number) + 3(a number) = 42' simplifies to '5x = 42', and solving for x gives us the number 8.4.
Step-by-step explanation:
The equation given is 2(a number) + 3(a number) = 42. To find the number, we can simplify by combining like terms. When two positive numbers add, the answer has a +ve sign, which applies here since we're adding the multiples of the same number.
Combining the coefficients of the number gives us:
2x + 3x = 5x
Now we have a simplified equation:
5x = 42
To find the value of x, we divide both sides of the equation by 5:
x = 42 / 5
x = 8.4
Therefore, the number we are looking for is 8.4.