If a number is multiplied by 3 to yield 12, what is the number?

To find the number that, when multiplied by 3, gives a product of 12, we start with the equation:

3 × number = 12.

To isolate the number, we divide both sides of the equation by 3:

number = 12 / 3.

Calculating this gives:

number = 4.

This is the correct solution because, when you multiply 4 by 3, you indeed get 12. Understanding the process of isolating the variable in an equation through division leads directly to identifying the number we are looking for, which confirms that the answer is correct. The process utilized here is a fundamental algebraic principle that reinforces the relationship between multiplication and division in solving for unknowns.