Question

Which of the following equations represents "the sum of three times a number and fifteen becomes eight times the

number?"

Answer 1

Let the number be x

• sum means addition
• eight times means 8x
• three times means 3x

The expression becomes

`\\ \sf\longmapsto 3x+15=8x`

Answer 2

3x + 15 = 8x

Explanation:

"The sum" means addition. Three times a number is that place where we insert a variable for the number that we don't know. In this question the word "becomes" is what indicates the equals. Eight times the number doesn't give any reason for us to think its a different unknown number, so we use the same variable as at the beginning of the question.