Question

The second of three numbers is three times the first. The third is 5 more than the second. if the second is decreased by twice the third number, the result is five?

x
3x
3x-2(3X)=5

x= 3/5 ?

Answer 1

Your setup is sloppy

let the first number be x
then the second number is 3x
and the third is 3x+5

now translate the following:
"if the second is decreased by twice the third number, the result is five"
----> 3x - 2(3x+5) = 5
3x - 6x - 10 = 5
-3x = 15
x = -5

check:
first: -5
2nd: -15
3rd : -10

let's decrease the 2nd by twice the third
--- twice the third = -20
the 2nd decreased by -20
= -15 - (-20)
= -15 + 20
= 5

My answer is correct