Its: [tex]x+(x-3)=16[/tex]
Start at the beginning
The sum of a number is [tex]x+[/tex] and three less than the number is [tex](x-3)[/tex]
Parentheses are mandatory; it is asking the number you get from [tex]x-3[/tex]
Its asking for the sum so you would get [tex]x+(x-3)[/tex]
In the very large dictionary of mathmatical terms, in this kind of problem, the word "is" means =.
The problem says "is sixteen"
So you would get [tex]x+(x-3)=16[/tex]
