Question

The difference of a number divided by 3 and 6 is equal to 5. What is the number?

Answer 1

The number is 30.

Explanation:

Let x be the number, then the equation is:

`x/3-x/6 = 5`

Multiply both sides of the equation by 6:

`2x - x = 30`

`x = 30`

Answer 2

33

Explanation:

Let `x` be the number

`x/3 - 6 = 5`

Multiplying both sides of the equation by 3,
`x-18=15`
`x=15+18`

Therefore,
`x=33`

Answer 3

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, let's call "a number": `n`

Next, we can write "a number divided by 3" as:

`n/3`

Then, we can write "the difference between" a number divided by 3 "and 6" as:

`n/3 - 6`

Now, we can complete this equation by write "is equal to 5" as:

`n/3 - 6 = 5`

To solve this, first, add `color(red)(6)` to each side of the equation to isolate the `n` term while keeping the equation balanced:

`n/3 - 6 + color(red)(6) = 5 + color(red)(6)`

`n/3 - 0 = 11`

`n/3 = 11`

Now, multiply each side of the equation by `color(red)(3)` to solve for `n` while keeping the equation balanced:

`color(red)(3) xx n/3 = color(red)(3) xx 11`

`cancel(color(red)(3)) xx n/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(3))) = 33`

`n = 33`

Answer 4

The number is either `+33` or `-3`

Explanation:

`color(red)("The difference of ")color(blue)("a number ")color(green)("divided by 3")color(red)(" and ")color(magenta)6color(brown)( " is equal to 5")`

If we represent `color(blue)("a number")` by the variable `color(blue)n`

this becomes:
`color(red)("The difference of ")color(blue)(n)color(green)(/3)color(red)(" and ")color(magenta)6color(brown)(=5)`

This has two possible interpretations
#{: (color(blue)(n)color(green)(/3) color(red)(-) color(magenta)6color(brown)(=5),color(white)("xx")"and"color(white)("xx"),color(magenta)6color(red)-color(blue)ncolor(green)(/3)color(brown)(=5)), (rarr color(blue)ncolor(green)(/3)=11,,rarrcolor(red)-color(blue)ncolor(green)(/3)color(brown)=-1), (rarr color(blue)n=33,,rarr color(blue)n=-3) :}#