What divided by 6.2 plus 8.8 equals 5?

Answer 1

Reverse the operations done using their inverses starting with the last operation done;

the inverse of add is subtract;

the inverse of divide is multiply:

The last operation is add 8.8, so subtract 8.8 → 5 - 8.8 = -3.8

The previous operation was divide by 6.2, so multiply the result so far by 6.2 → -3.8 × 6.2 = -23.56

This was the first operation, therefore -23.56 is the original number.

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Alternatively, using algebra - let the number be x, then:

x ÷ 6.2 + 8.8 = 5

→ x ÷ 6.2 = 5 - 8.8 = -3.8

→ x = -3.8 × 6.2 = -23.56

Answer 2

The answer is -23.56