Thirty two is the sum of a number and fifty one. What is the number?

2 Answers
Mar 6, 2018

The number is #-19#.

Explanation:

Let's call the unknown number #x# and set up an equation:
#x+51 =32#.

To solve for #x#, we want to get it alone. In this case, that means subtracting #51# from both sides:
#x = -19#

To check this, we go back to what we know: the sum is the result of addition, and if we add #-19 + 51#, we do indeed get #32#.

Mar 6, 2018

The number is #-19#.

Explanation:

Translate the sentence from English to math. For example, "is" means equals and "sum" means adding together numbers.

#stackrel(32) overbrace("Thirty two") " " stackrel(=) overbrace("is") " " stackrel(x+51) overbrace("the sum of a number and fifty one") "."#

Now, write down the equation and solve for #x#:

#32=x+51#

#32color(blue)-color(blue)51=x+51color(blue)-color(blue)51#

#32color(blue)-color(blue)51=xcolor(red)cancel(color(black)+color(black)51color(blue)-color(blue)51)#

#32-51=x#

#-19=x#

That's the number!