Question

Four times the quantity of 6 minus a number is 8

Answer 1

The original number was 4.

Explanation:

We can construct an equation to model the given situation, using a variable x to represent the original number:

"the quantity of 6 minus a number"

`(6 - x)`

"four times the quantity"

`4(6 - x)`

"is 8"

`4(6 - x) = 8`

We can solve for x in this equation.

`4(6 - x) = 8`

↓ applying the distributive property ...
`A(B+C) = AB + AC`

`24 - 4x = 8`

↓ adding 4x to both sides

`24 = 8 + 4x`

↓ subtracting 8 from both sides

`16 = 4x`

↓ dividing both sides by 4

`4 = x`

`\boxed{x = 4}`

So, the original number was 4.