The sum of two and the quotient of a number and eight is negative seven. What is the number?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-15T23:01:12

Call the number $x$ and break up the problem

"quotient of a number and eight" $=x/8$

"the sum of two and ..." $=2+x/8$

"is negative seven" $2+x/8=-7$

Now we have something we can work with:
Subtract $2$ from both sides:

$cancel2-cancel2+x/8=-7-2->x/8=-9$

Multiply both sides by $8$ :

$cancel8xx x/cancel8=-9xx8->x=-72$

Check your answer:
$2+(-72)/8=2-9=-7$ Check!