if five less than twice a number is seventeen, what is the number?

you made a mistake anon  

2x-5=17

You have to ADD 5 to both sides (to get rid of the -5)

$${\mathtt{2}}{\mathtt{\,\times\,}}{\mathtt{x}}{\mathtt{\,-\,}}{\mathtt{5}} = {\mathtt{17}} \Rightarrow {\mathtt{x}} = {\mathtt{11}}$$

The number is 11.

2x-5=17

Subtract 5 from both sides. Now the equation looks like this:

2x=19

Now divide both sides by two. The equation now looks like this:

x=9.5

This is also the answer.

This is a simple 6th grade level, two-step math equation. Everything you do is designes to cancel out numbers ont he side of the x. ALWAYS do the subtraction/addition first!!!!!

I hope this was helpful!