unsolvable pre algebraic equation

[femsol]

The difference of a number from 8 is 3 more than the product of the same number and five.
This is a bit of an embarassment as I am visiting my nephew and he is having fun watching three college educated adults find this answer.

Hope you can help.
Deborah L Linsley

 

[Mrspi]

The difference of a number from 8 is 3 more than the product of the same number and five.
This is a bit of an embarassment as I am visiting my nephew and he is having fun watching three college educated adults find this answer.

Hope you can help.
Deborah L Linsley

Ok....

let x represent this "mysterious" number

The difference of this number from 8 would be
8 - x

"3 more than the product of the same number and 5" would be
5x + 3

These two things are equal:
"the difference of a number from 8 is 3 more than the product of the same number and 5"
8 - x = 5x + 3

Ok...there's the equation. It isn't "unsolvable" at all! Let your pre-algebra student show you college educated folks how to do it!

 

[Denis]

Tell your nephew there's a 2nd solution and see what he says:
x - 8 = 5x + 3
4x = -11
x = -11/4

Mrspi's will give you x = 5/6