The problem asks to translate the sentence "Nine times the sum of a number and 7 is 8" into an equation using the variable $b$ for the unknown number.

Step-by-step translation:

• "Nine times" means multiplying by 9.
• "The sum of a number and 7" means $b + 7$.
• The word "is" translates to an equals sign (=).
• The value "8" is on the right-hand side of the equation.

Equation:

The equation is: $9(b + 7) = 8$

This represents the problem in mathematical form.

Would you like a detailed explanation on how to solve this equation or have any questions?

5 related questions:

1. How would you solve the equation $9(b + 7) = 8$?
2. Can you try translating another sentence like "Five times the difference of a number and 3 is 12"?
3. How does the distributive property apply to $9(b + 7)$?
4. What happens if the right-hand side of the equation was changed to a different number?
5. Can you rewrite the equation in a different form, like solving for $b$?

Tip:

When translating word problems into equations, look for key terms like "times" (multiplication), "sum" (addition), and "is" (equals). These are important clues for constructing the equation.