product of a number and its reciprocal is increased by 7 The phrase a number means an arbitrary variable, let's call it x: x Its reciprocal means we take the reciprocal of x: 1/x product of a number and its reciprocal: x * 1/x x/x The x's cancel giving us: 1 is increased by 7 means we add 7: 1 + 7 8
