Me! 5 less than 4 times a number equals 2 more than 3 times the number

Don't try and read this all at once. Just do a little at a time. You're not reading a novel. You are doing a math problem.

Left Hand Side

Start with 4 times a number

Let the number = x

4 times a number = 4x

5 less than 4 times a number =

5 - 4*x

Right Hand Side

Three times a number = 3x

Two more than 3 times a number = 2 + 3x

Equals

5 - 4x = 2 + 3x                     Add 4x to both sides

5 - 4x + 4x = 2 + 3x + 4x     Combine

5 = 2 + 7x                             Subtract 2 from both sides

5 - 2 = 2 - 2 + 7x                  Combine

3 = 7x                                   Divide by 7

3/7 = 7/7 * x

x = 3/7                                  Answer  

area of part 1:

a1=base*height/2=(8+2)*(8-2-2-1)/2=10*3/2=15 ft^2

area of part 2:

a2=length*width=(8+2)*1=10 ft2

area of part 3:

a3=length*width=8*2=16 ft2

total shaded area : a1+a2+a3=41 ft2

total area of the reactangle : a=16*8=128 ft2

total area of the nonshaded region : 128-41=87 ft2