Question

Hector is thinking of a number. If you add 7 to the number, multiply the result by
2 and then subtract 10, you have 26. What was the original number that Hector
thought of?

Answer 1

We need to solve (X+7)2 - 10 = 26 where X is the original number that Hector thought of.

Here’s how to solve it:

(X+7)2 - 10 = 26
(X+7)2 = 36
(X+7) = 18
X = 11

Therefore Hector was thinking of the number 11