"The quotient of a number increased by 13 and -7 is -4 ."

Let’s break that down a bit! When it says the “quotient of a number increased by 13 and -7,” it translates to the equation \((x + 13) / -7 = -4\). To find \(x\), multiply both sides by -7, leading to \(x + 13 = 28\). Subtracting 13 gives you \(x = 15\). Ta-da! The mystery number is 15! Now, using this equation in real life can be super helpful! Think of situations like budgeting where you may need to solve for unknown expenses. Perhaps you want to know how to balance your spending, with a fixed income and certain costs. Solving such equations makes financial planning a breeze!