Question

Translate following words into an equation and then solve the equation "Half a number plus 9, is -7"
A) The number is -8
B) The number is -32
C) The number is -14
D) The number is -21

Answer 1

Let's translate the words into an equation.

Let the number be represented by \( x \). According to the statement:

"Half a number plus 9, is -7"

We can write this as:
\[
\frac{1}{2}x + 9 = -7
\]

Now, let's solve for \( x \):

1. Subtract 9 from both sides:
\[
\frac{1}{2}x = -7 - 9
\]
\[
\frac{1}{2}x = -16
\]

2. Multiply both sides by 2 to isolate \( x \):
\[
x = -16 \times 2
\]
\[
x = -32
\]

Now, let's compare this with the options provided:
A) The number is -8
B) The number is -32
C) The number is -14
D) The number is -21

The correct answer is **B) The number is -32**.