Question

In the equation 51-14x=84, what does x equal?

Answer 1

To solve for 'x' we need to isolate it, by getting all terms with 'x' on one side of the equation and all terms without 'x' on the other side.

To do this we can start by subtracting 51 from both sides of the equation:
$51-14x-51=84-51$
$-14x=33$

Now we need to 'move' the -14 over as well. We can do this by dividing both sides by -14:
$\frac{-14x}{-14}=\frac{33}{-14}$
$x=\frac{33}{-14}$

We now have 'x' isloated and out answer is there: X= -(33/14)

We can check this answer by plugging it back into the original equation:
$51-14x=84$
$51-14(-\frac{33}{14})=84$
$51-(-33)=84$
$84=84$ Check.

Answer 2

51-14x=84-->-14x=84-51-->-14x=33-->14x/-14=33/-14-->x=-33/14