$\"\"$ $\"\"$

The expression is “negative three eights times a number equals 12”.

Let n represent the number.

The word “negative” can be represented as “ $\"\"$ ” symbol

The word “equals” can be represented as “ $\"\"$ ” symbol.

The word “times” indicates multiplication and the symbol is “ $\"\"$ ”.

$\"\"$

Rewrite the sentence into expression as

$\"\"$

The equation is $\"\"$ $\"\"$

According to multiplication property of equality: Multiply each side by $\"\"$ .

$\"\"$

$\"\"$ (Cancel common terms)

$\"\"$ (Multiply: $\"\"$ )

$\"\"$ (Multiply each side by negative one)

$\"\"$ (Product of two same signs is positive) $\"\"$

The number is $\"\"$ .