Think of a Number: Algebraic Thinking Example
22 October 2026
Worked example
Think of a number. Double it, add 4, then halve the result. Subtract the original number. What is the answer?
Let the number be x.
Double it: 2 × x = 2x.
Add 4: 2x + 4.
Halve the result: (2x + 4) ÷ 2 = x + 2.
Subtract the original number: (x + 2) - x = 2.
The answer is 2.
Key insight: The answer is always 2, no matter what number you start with. This shows how algebra helps us spot patterns.
