Question

Three times a number decreased by fourteen is four.

Answer 1

3 times a number is 3x
decreased by 14 is '- 14'
is 4 is '= 4'

So we have:

3x - 14 = 4

Add 14 to both sides:

3x = 18

Divide 3 to both sides:

x = 6

Answer 2

Let the number be 'x' :
$3x-14=4\\ 3x=4+14\\ 3x=18\\ x=\frac { 18 }{ 3 } \\ x=6$