Question

How would I start to solve number 15? Would I use distributive property?

Answer 1

$-5-x=2x-(4x+6)$

Using the distributive property is the correct first step. $(4x+6)$ is being multiplied by -1, so distributing gives

$-5-x=2x+(-4x-6)$
$-5-x=2x+((-4x)+(-6))$

Now, using the associative property of addition, you get

$-5-x=(2x+(-4x))+(-6)$
$-5-x=(2x-4x)-6$

Simplify the right hand side:

$-5-x=-2x-6$

Add 5 and $2x$ to both sides.

$(2x+5)-5-x=(2x+5)-2x-6$

On the left side, use the associative property. On the right, commutativity and associativity:

$2x+(5-5)-x=5+(2x-2x)-6$

Simplify.

$2x-x=-1$
$x=-1$