If you double a number and add 6, you get 14. What is the original number?

• A. 5
• B. 4
• C. 7
• D. 3

Answer: (B)

Solving a simple linear equation helps you find a number when you know what operation on it produces a given result. Let the original number be x. Doubling it gives 2x, and adding 6 gives 2x + 6, which equals 14. Undo the operations step by step: subtract 6 from both sides to get 2x = 8, then divide both sides by 2 to find x = 4. So the original number is 4. Quick check: doubling 4 gives 8, and 8 + 6 equals 14, so it fits perfectly. For other options, doubling and adding 6 would not yield 14 (for example, 5 gives 16, 3 gives 12, 7 gives 20).