Algebra - Multiplication

A Puzzle

What is the missing number?

×

4

=

8

The answer is 2, right? Because 2 × 4 = 8.
Well, in Algebra we don't use blank boxes, we use a letter. So we might write:

x

×

4

=

8

But the "x" looks like the "×"! ... that could be very confusing ... so in Algebra we don't use the multiply symbol (×) between numbers and letters, we simply put the number next to the letter to mean multiply:

4x

=

8

You would say in English "four x equals eight", meaning that 4 x's make 8. And the answer would be written:

x

=

2