Subtract 0.5
238
minus one half
two and one half
Let the number be x. Then we have, (2/3)x - 2 = (1/2)x subtract (1/2)x and add 2 to both sides (1/6)x = 2 multiply both sides by 6 x = 12.
The wording is ambiguous. If the questions means, "From what number can you subtract one-half to get a result of zero?" then the answer is one-half. (1/2) - (1/2) = 0 If the question means, "From what number can you subtract half of the number to get a result of zero?" then the answer is zero. 0 - (1/2)0 = 0
Subtract 0.5
half the result
...but if you multiply a whole number by a half the result decreases. Half of anything is less than that thing!
238
minus one half
1.25
34?
Well, split 70 in half: 35 + 35. Add 4 (half of the 8) to one half: 39. Subtract 4 (the other half of 8) from the other half: 31. The smaller number is 31.
Subtract the difference and half your answer, giving 9 which is the smaller number, add the difference to this and you get 38 which is the larger number.
It is 1/6.
12