Solution to Contest #3

Two-thirds of a number is two from that number.

Here's the translation:
"Two-thirds" becomes "2/3"
"of" becomes "times"
"a number" becomes "x"
"is" becomes "="
"two" becomes "2"
"from" becomes "-"
"that number" becomes "x"

If we do a direct translation, we get:

2/3 times x = 2 - x

However, when we use the word "from" to indicate a subtraction, we have to reverse the order. (Have any of your English teachers ever taught you this?). So the equation is properly translated to:

2/3 times x = x - 2

The correct answer is 6.