I will teach you how to write out these equations. The secret to learning this is to not try to do everything at once when first learning it. I will do the translation one step at a time. This is your chance to learn this. **Follow along with pencil and paper** and you'll get it. Do not try to just read like a newspaper article.
The difference between 2/3 of a number and 4 is 5/3 that number
Just replace the word "number" with x:
The difference between 2/3 of x and 4 is 5/3 of x.
Now replace the word "of" with multiplication and "is" with =
The difference between (2/3)x and 4 = (5/3 )x.
Replace "difference between ___ and ___" with minus sign, but put it in math order, rather than English order.
(2/3)x – 4 = (5/3) x .... Voila -- your equation. Rewrite it a little more neatly like this:
2x/3 – 4 = 5x/3 Now we see we have to clear the denmominator by muliplying every term by 3 on both sides:
It makes a difference if you subtract 4 from 2/3x or 2/3x as opposed to 2/3x from 4. I assume the difference should be positive so go with dave aka spider monkey's method and answer of 12/7.
Comments
(2/3x) - 4 = (5/3x)
-4 = (5/3x) - (2/3x)
-4 = (3/3)x
x = -4
I will teach you how to write out these equations. The secret to learning this is to not try to do everything at once when first learning it. I will do the translation one step at a time. This is your chance to learn this. **Follow along with pencil and paper** and you'll get it. Do not try to just read like a newspaper article.
The difference between 2/3 of a number and 4 is 5/3 that number
Just replace the word "number" with x:
The difference between 2/3 of x and 4 is 5/3 of x.
Now replace the word "of" with multiplication and "is" with =
The difference between (2/3)x and 4 = (5/3 )x.
Replace "difference between ___ and ___" with minus sign, but put it in math order, rather than English order.
(2/3)x – 4 = (5/3) x .... Voila -- your equation. Rewrite it a little more neatly like this:
2x/3 – 4 = 5x/3 Now we see we have to clear the denmominator by muliplying every term by 3 on both sides:
2x – 12 = 5x Solving
–12 = 3x
–4 = x
3
2/3 of 3 is 2, and 5/3 of 3 is 4
start with a number, if the answer for it is too high, try one that's lower, etc. with these it will usually be a whole number
It makes a difference if you subtract 4 from 2/3x or 2/3x as opposed to 2/3x from 4. I assume the difference should be positive so go with dave aka spider monkey's method and answer of 12/7.
let the number be x
so 2/3 of the number means : 2x/3
now difference between 2/3 of the number and 4 is (2x/3) -4
so 2x/3 - 4 = 5x /3
sending the 2x/3 to the left side
- 4 = 5x /3 -2x/3
(5x-2x)/3 = - 4
3x/3 =-4
Therefore x = - 4 (Answer)
let x= the number
(2/3)x - 4 = (5/3)x
2x-12=5x
-12=3x
-4=x
The number is -4.
2/3x -4 =5/3x
-4 =3/3x
-4=x
answer is -4
4 - (2/3) x = (5/3) x
12 - 2x = 5x
12 = 7x
x = 12/7
(2/3)N - 4 = (5/3)N
-4 = (3/3)N
N = -4
4-2/3x=5/3x
4=7/3x
4/1*3/7=7/3x(3/7)
12/7=x