Question

If you subtract \[\dfrac{1}{2}\] from a number and multiply the result by \[\dfrac{1}{2}\] , you get \[\dfrac{1}{8}\] . What is the number \[?\]

Answer 1

Hint: First we have to understand the statement then express it in a correct equation. Assume or let \[x\] be the number we have to find. Add or subtract or multiply or divide the given equation by any value so that we can get \[x\] on the LHS of the given equation. Simplify it and find the number.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Let \[x\] be the number we have to find from the given statement.
The given statement can be express as the equation is \[\left( {x - \dfrac{1}{2}} \right) \times \dfrac{1}{2} = \dfrac{1}{8}\] ---(1)
Multiply by \[2\] on the both sides of the equation (1), we get
 \[\left( {x - \dfrac{1}{2}} \right) = \dfrac{1}{4}\] --(2)
Adding \[\dfrac{1}{2}\] in both sides of the equation (2), we get
 \[\left( {x - \dfrac{1}{2}} \right) + \dfrac{1}{2} = \dfrac{1}{4} + \dfrac{1}{2}\] .
Simplify the above equation, we get
 \[x = \dfrac{3}{4}\] .
Hence the number in the given statement is \[\dfrac{3}{4}\] .
So, the correct answer is “ \[\dfrac{3}{4}\] ”.

Note: Note that in Hindu Arabic system, we have ten digits, namely \[0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8\] and \[9\] . A number is denoted by a group of digits, called numeral. For denoting a numeral, we use the place value chart. Also note that all the natural numbers are whole numbers and all whole numbers are Integers. Natural numbers, whole numbers, Integers, prime numbers, even numbers, odd numbers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, real numbers, complex numbers and composite numbers etc.., are various types of numbers.