If a number is tripled , it equals the product of four and the number diminished by two. find the number

So basically, translating it to algebra:

3x = 4(x-2)
3x = 4x - 8
flip the like terms to the other sides so they become similar;

8 = 4x -3x
8 = x

And the number is 8!

So the first thing we do is to multiply the top equation by 3. the reason i want to do this is i notice there will be a 6y on both equations and can possibly add/subtract them. so we get 6y = -3x + 27. adding that and the second equation we get 6x = 27-15 which is 12. divide by 6 and we get 2. ∴ x = 2. substituting 2 into the first equation we get 2y = -2 + 9 which is 7. divide by 2 and we get 7/2. ∴ y = 7/2, x = 2.