If thrice a number is increased by 11,the result is 35. What is the number? The phrase a number means an arbitrary variable. Let's call it x. Thrice means multiply by 3, so we have 3x Increased by 11 means we add 11, so we have 3x + 11 The result is means an equation, so we set 3x + 11 equal to 35 3x + 11 = 35 <-- This is our algebraic expression The problem ask us to solve the algebraic expression. Typing this problem into our search engine, we get x = 8.