Solve for the Missing Number in 17-?+4=5: Step-by-Step Guide

Question

$17-?+4=5$

00:00 Complete the missing

00:03 Since all operations are only addition/subtraction

00:06 You can use the commutative property and solve in a different order

00:10 Let's continue solving

00:24 Let's isolate our unknown

00:49 And this is the solution to the question

The question mark is the unknown, so we will refer to the exercise as an equation.

We arrange the exercise to isolate the question mark:

$17+4-?=5$

We reduce:

$21-?=5$

We move to thevariable to the other side and change to the correct sign:

$21=?+5$

We move the 5 to the other side and change to the correct sign: $21-5=\text{?}$

$16=\text{?}$

$16$