Answer: 7Step-by-step explanation:To find the original number, we can solve it in reverse by undoing each operation step by step.Starting with the final result, 17, we reverse the subtraction of 4 by adding 4: 17 + 4 = 21.Next, since the original step was multiplying by 3, we undo it by dividing by 3: 21 ÷ 3 = 7.Therefore, the number you thought of is 7. Checking forward: 7 × 3 = 21, and 21 − 4 = 17, which matches the problem.