A number n is multiplied by 5/8. The product is subtracted by 2/3. The result 7/12, what is n.

3 answers

Translate the English into Math, after all Mathematics is a language.
"A number n is multiplied by 5/8" --- (5/8)n
"The product is subtracted by 2/3", poorly worded, I will assume
you mean -----> (5/8)n - 2/3
"The result 7/12" -----> (5/8)n - 2/3 = 7/12
multiply each term by 24, the LCD
15n - 16 = 14

continue from here
5n/8-2/3=7/12
2.5n/4-2/3=7/12 multiply each side by 12
2.5*3n-8=7
7.5n=15
n=2
2 / 3 - n ∙ 5 / 8 = 7 / 12

2 / 3 - 5 n / 8 = 7 / 12

8 ∙ 2 / 8 ∙ 3 - 3 ∙ 5 n / 3 ∙ 8 = 2 ∙ 7 / 2 ∙ 12

16 / 24 - 15 n / 24 = 14 / 24

Subtract 16 / 24 to both sides

16 / 24 - 15 n / 24 - 16 / 24 = 14 / 24 - 16 / 24

- 15 n / 24 = - 2 / 24

Multiply both sides by 24

- 15 n = - 2

Divide both sides by - 15

n = - 2 / - 15

n = 2 / 15