Question

Nine more than four times a number is the same as one less than twice the number. What is the number?

Answer 1

The number is -5.

Explanation:

Let `n` represent a number. Nine more than four times a number, is the same thing as writing `4n + 9`. "More than" means add, and the "times" means multiply. "Same" means equal. One less than twice the number is the same thing as writing `2n - 1`. "Less than" means subtract.

So:

`4n + 9 = 2n - 1`
`2n = - 10`
`n = -5`