Question

If two times a number is equal to that number minus 4 , what is the number? A) \(-7\) B) \(-6\) C) \(-4\) D) \(-3\)

Short answer

The correct answer is \(C) -4\).

Step-by-step solution

Set up the equation

Let the number be represented by \(x\). We're told that two times the number is equal to the number minus 4. This can be written as an equation: \[2x = x - 4\]

Solve for \(x\)

In order to solve for \(x\), we'll first isolate it on one side of the equation, like this: \[2x - x = x - x - 4\] This simplifies to: \[x = -4\]

Test the answer against the given options

Compare our answer, \(x = -4\), to the given options: A) \(-7\) B) \(-6\) C) \(-4\) D) \(-3\) Our answer, \(x = -4\), corresponds to answer choice C, so the correct answer is \(C) -4\).