When a number is decreased by 20% of itself, the result is 96. What is the number?
The number is

The answer is 120.
We took away 20% of the original number, so we are left with 80% of the original number.
So we can say 80% = 96
Divide both sides by 80 to get 1%
And we get 1% = 1.2
And then multiply both sides by 100 to get 100% (aka, original number)
100% = 120 :)

B. because the 7 represents "seven times", x represents "a number", 12 represents "plus twelve", and -4 represents "minus four"