11 Plus Exams Forum

Take a one digit integer.
Multiply it by 3. Add 8. Divide by 2. Subtract 6.
Now you have your starting integer.
What is it?

I would do it by solving (3x+8)/2 - 6 = x. But is there a way to do it without using algebra? I think at KS2 level they wouldn't expect that.

Long Journey wrote:Take a one digit integer.
Multiply it by 3. Add 8. Divide by 2. Subtract 6.
Now you have your starting integer.
What is it?

I would do it by solving (3x+8)/2 - 6 = x. But is there a way to do it without using algebra? I think at KS2 level they wouldn't expect that.

Trial and error?

1 x 3 = 3, + 8 = 11, /2 = fraction

So try the even numbers?

Thank you stevew. I suppose with such a small set of numbers to try trial and error makes sense.