Question

Nine less than a number is -24. How do you find the number?

Answer 1

Hint: To solve the given problem we will consider the number to be x, then nine less than this number is -24. The difference between the two numbers is -24. One of those numbers is nine and other is x. This is a linear equation in one variable. On solving the equation we will get the value of x. So let’s solve it!

Complete step by step solution:
Let the number be x.
Then nine less than the number will be \[x - 9\]
But that difference is -24.
So we can write \[x - 9 = - 24\]
Now we will solve this linear equation in one variable.
We will take the constants on one side,
\[\Rightarrow x = - 24 + 9\]
On solving the equation above,
\[\Rightarrow x = - 15\]
This is our answer.
So, the correct answer is “\[x = - 15\]”.

Note: Here note that we have reduced 9 from x because nine is less than that number is given the statement. That means 9 is subtracted from that number. Also note that though the number 24 is greater, it carries minus sign and that is why we have performed addition of one negative and one positive number but given the sign of a bigger number.
Linear equations have one variable.