Beginning Algebra With Applications, Chapter 2, 2.3, Section 2.3, Problem 74

Translate the phrase "sixteen multiplied by one-fourth of a number" into a variable expression. Then simplify the expression.

$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}
& \text{The unknown number: } n && \text{Assign a variable to one of the number quantities}\\
\\
& \text{One-fourth the number: } \frac{1}{4}n && \text{Use the assigned variable to write an expression for any other unknown quantity.}\\
\\
&= 16 \left( \frac{1}{4}n \right) && \text{Use the assigned variable to write the variable expression.}\\
\\
&= \left( 16 \cdot \frac{1}{4} \right)n && \text{Use the Associative Property of Multiplication to rearrange factors}\\
\\
&= 4n
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$