\( x \) the sum of the three terms is 27 and the product is 94.

To unravel the mystery of your sum and product, consider the three terms as \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \). We know they satisfy the equations \( a + b + c = 27 \) and \( abc = 94 \). A fun tip! If you think of \( a \), \( b \), and \( c \) as the roots of a polynomial, you could represent it as \( x^3 - (a+b+c)x^2 + (ab + ac + bc)x - abc = 0 \). With the sum and product in hand, you're close to finding an engaging way to solve for these mysterious values! When tackling problems like this, a common mistake is jumping straight to guessing the numbers without utilizing systematic approaches such as substitution or leveraging polynomial equations. Instead, consider breaking down your equation into smaller parts by letting \( c = 27 - a - b \) and substituting into the product equation. This will lead to a quadratic in terms of \( a \) or \( b \), making it a lot easier to find solutions while avoiding pitfalls. Happy calculating!