Question

challenge #2
lashawn put a number into this machine, and 40 was the output.
what was the input?

Explanation:

Step1: Let the input number be \( x \).

The operations are: first multiply by 3, then subtract 2, and the result is 40. So the equation is \( 3x - 2 = 40 \).

Step2: Solve for \( x \).

Add 2 to both sides: \( 3x = 40 + 2 = 42 \).
Then divide both sides by 3: \( x = \frac{42}{3} = 14 \).

Answer:

14