a number machine takes any number put into it, multiplies it by 3 and then subtracts 2. reuben put a number into the machine. he took the new number that came out and put that number back into the machine. He took the new number that came out and put that back into the machine. the number that came out this time was 271. what number did reuben originally put into the machine?
first round:
x --> 3x --- >3x-2
2nd round:
3x-2 ---> 9x-6 ---> 9x-8
3rd round:
9x-8 ---> 27x - 24 ---> 27x - 26
27x - 26 = 271
27x = 297
x = 11