If you would like
to transform the following phrase into an equation, you can do it
like this:
the product of a number and -3 increased by 4 is 12
a number ...n
the product of a number and -3 ... n (-3)
increased by 4 ... + 4
is 12 ... = 12
Now you just have to put this together: n (-3) + 4 = 12
If you want to solve the equation, you can do it like this:
n (-3) + 4 = 12
-3 n = 12 - 4
-3 * n = 8
n = 8 / (-3)
n = - 8/3 = - 2 2/3
