When 4 is added to one-half the number x, the result is the same as if 2 had been subtracted from the number x. How do you write an equation that expresses this relationship?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-13T14:14:34

$4 + (1/2 xx x) = x - 2$

To write the equation expressing this relationship we can take this one phrase at a time:

"one-half the number x" can be written as:

$1/2 xx x$

"When 4 is added to" this expression we get:

$4 + (1/2 xx x)$

"the result is the same as" is the same as "=" so we can write:

$4 + (1/2 xx x) =$

"if two had been subtracted from the number x" can be written as:

$x - 2$

Putting this together gives us our full equation:

$4 + (1/2 xx x) = x - 2$