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