20 - ? / 8 = 18

Question

20 minus what numbr divided by 8 = 18

Answer 1

(20 - x) / 8 = 18    20-x = 8*18   20-x=144  -x = 124   x = -124

Comments

It depends how you read the question. I read it differently. See below:

Add ?/8 to both sides:

20=18+?/8

Subtract 18 from both sides:

2=?/8

Multiply both sides by 8:

16=? So ?=16.

Note that the text clarifies the title question to favour this alternative solution.

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I think your solution is the correct one and your comment is well accepted.

The discription " 20 minus what numbr devided by 8 " gives the impression of a

parenthesis, which not really exists, and which I used it in my solution.

I should have been more careful, I think and I feel very sorry about it.

Thank you for your comment.

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No problem. Many questions are ambiguous, and in some cases I’ve submitted more than one answer. In other cases I’ve gone down the path that seems to lead to a pleasing or “sensible” solution, and in some cases I’ve corrected an error in the presentation of the question when it’s obvious there’s a mistake. But I find that carefully examining the text of the question and other information submitted with the question helps to discover what the “real” question is supposed to be. (I do get it wrong sometimes!)