A number is divided by 3. Then, 5 is added to the quotient, and the result is 8. What is the number?

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Answer 1 · 2016-11-15T13:25:45

$n = 9$

First, let's give a name to the number we are looking for and call it $n$ .

So we can then write "A number is divided by 3" as $n/3$

To add $5$ to the quotient would then give us the expression $n/3 + 5$

If this results in $8$ we can finally write the equation we are trying to solve and solve the equation for $n$ while keeping the equation balanced:

$n/3 + 5 = 8$

$n/3 + 5 - 5 = 8 - 5$

$n/3 + 0 = 3$

$n/3 = 3$

$3 * n/3 = 3 * 3$

$1n = 9$

$n = 9$