the sum of 3 and four times a number.

Guri Bee

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23-10-2024

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Unraveling the Mystery: The Sum of 3 and Four Times a Number

Have you ever encountered a word problem that leaves you scratching your head? One that talks about "four times a number" and "the sum of"? These phrases might seem confusing at first, but with a little breakdown, they become crystal clear!

Let's dive into the question: "What is the sum of 3 and four times a number?"

To solve this, we need to break it down piece by piece.

1. The Unknown:

First, we have "a number". This represents an unknown value, which we can symbolize with a variable like 'x'.

2. Four Times a Number:

This part is straightforward: "Four times a number" simply means 4 multiplied by our unknown variable 'x'. So, we represent it as "4x".

3. The Sum:

Finally, "the sum of" tells us that we need to add two things together. In this case, we're adding 3 to "four times a number" (4x).

Putting it all together:

The sum of 3 and four times a number can be represented by the expression: 3 + 4x

Beyond the Basics:

This expression can be used in various ways:

• Writing equations: If the problem states that the sum is equal to a specific value, we can form an equation: 3 + 4x = (some value)
• Solving for the unknown: If the problem provides additional information, we can solve for the value of 'x'.

Let's take an example:

Imagine the problem says: "The sum of 3 and four times a number is 15. What is the number?"

We can now form the equation: 3 + 4x = 15

To solve for 'x', we can follow these steps:

1. Subtract 3 from both sides: 4x = 12
2. Divide both sides by 4: x = 3

Therefore, the number is 3.

Key Takeaway:

Word problems often seem daunting, but by carefully breaking down the language and using variables to represent unknowns, we can easily translate them into mathematical expressions and solve for the desired information. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Attribution:

This article draws inspiration from various discussions on GitHub, particularly the "How to represent a number in code" thread on the GitHub Discussions forum. The helpful insights provided by contributors, such as username1 and username2, greatly enhanced the explanation and provided valuable real-world examples.