Sure, let's solve this step-by-step. We are given that the sum of 3 times a number and 6 is equal to 18. Let's denote the unknown number by [tex]\( x \)[/tex].
1. According to the problem, we have the equation:
[tex]\[
3x + 6 = 18
\][/tex]
2. The first step is to isolate the term involving [tex]\( x \)[/tex]. To do this, subtract 6 from both sides of the equation:
[tex]\[
3x + 6 - 6 = 18 - 6
\][/tex]
Simplifying this, we get:
[tex]\[
3x = 12
\][/tex]
3. Now, we need to solve for [tex]\( x \)[/tex] by dividing both sides of the equation by 3:
[tex]\[
\frac{3x}{3} = \frac{12}{3}
\][/tex]
Simplifying this, we get:
[tex]\[
x = 4
\][/tex]
Therefore, the number is [tex]\( 4 \)[/tex].
So, the correct answer is:
4
