Example 102.

If \(28\) less than five times a certain number is \(232\). What is the number?

\(5 x-28\) Subtraction is built backwards, multiply the unknown by \(5\)
\(5 x-28=232\) Is translates to equals
\(underline +28 \quad +28\) Add \(28\) to both sides
\(\underline {5x=260}\) The variable is multiplied by \(5\)
\( 5 \quad \quad 5\) Divide both sides by \(5\)
\(x=52\) The number is \(52\).


This same idea can be extended to a more involved problem as shown in the next example.